Kashmir's stone-pelters face off against pellet guns
Security forces using shotguns to disperse crowds of stone-throwing young people in the Indian-ruled region of Himalayan Kashmir have killed more than 100 people, blinding hundreds and maiming thousands over the past year.
Right: "My parents tell me not to do stone pelting but I do, as we want freedom from India. I was hit by pellets in 2016. Two pellets are still in my body," 19-year-old student said.
Left: "I've been in crowd control since 2008. First we chase the stone pelters. We fire tear gas only when the crowd gets out of control," 47-year-old police officer said.
Right: "I was hit by pellets last year during stone pelting and taken to a nearby hospital. There were 48 pellets in my body, out of which 35 were removed and rest are still inside," 18-year-old student said.
Left: "I joined the police as I had no job. Being part of the police force is very difficult for me under these circumstances but I have no choice. Even our own children and relatives take part in these protests," 24-year-old police officer said.
Left: "I have joined the police as I had no job. We don’t want to fire tear gas or pellets at the protesters but we do it for public safety after mobs go on the rampage. We have to protect life and public property," 25-year-old police officer said.
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"I was hit by pellets during stone pelting," said one 20-year-old student. "I have 80 percent vision in my right eye now, but if I get a chance, I can pick up a gun."
India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars since independence in 1947 over Kashmir, which each claims in full but rules only in part.
