Hiba to undergo second surgery tomorrow

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, December 9

Valley’s youngest pellet victim 18-month-old Hiba Nisar is all set to undergo second surgery on Tuesday as a pellet is still lodged in her eye.

Hiba was hit by pellets fired by security forces in her right eye on November 25 at her home in Shopian district in south Kashmir during protests after a fierce encounter that left six militants and a soldier dead.

Since then Hiba, which in Arabic means the ‘gift of God’, has undergone a surgery at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar as she had suffered corneal perforation due to the pellet injury.

“She has suffered a corneal injury. We are trying to restore her eyesight but it is a long procedure and will take multiple surgeries. Her second surgery is scheduled for December 11,” said a senior doctor at SMHS Hospital where Hiba is being treated currently.

Dr Tariq Qureshi, head of ophthalmology department at SMHS Hospital, told The Tribune that Hiba was scheduled to arrive at the hospital on Monday. Her current condition would be known after a check-up, he said. Hiba’s parents said they were hopeful that their daughter would be able to recover after the second surgery.

“Doctors told us that they will be able to get some positive results,” said Marsala Jan, Hiba’s mother.

The plight of Hiba has already caught people’s attention. It has brought into focus the debate on banning the use of pellet guns during law and order situations.

Taking a serious note of the pellet injury, the State Human Rights Commission had on November 27 issued notices to the police and Shopian administration directing them to file a detailed report to explain how the baby received a pellet injury in her eye.