---
title: "Path to Recovery: Insha Mushtaq Secures Livelihood a Decade After Pellet Trauma"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/path-to-recovery-insha-mushtaq-secures-livelihood-a-decade-after-pellet-trauma-mdsal
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-07-30T19:31:04.000Z
modified: 2026-07-30T21:09:35.545Z
language: en-IN
---

# Path to Recovery: Insha Mushtaq Secures Livelihood a Decade After Pellet Trauma

The Jammu and Kashmir government has released funds for Insha Mushtaq's LPG distributorship ten years after she lost her sight to pellet guns. Her story highlights the long-standing debate over crowd control measures and the slow pace of victim rehabilitation.

## Key takeaways

- The J&K government approved ₹41.16 lakh to finalize an LPG distributorship for Insha Mushtaq, promised initially in 2018.
- Mushtaq lost her eyesight in 2016 as a Class 8 student when pellets hit her while she was inside her home during civil unrest.
- More than 6,000 civilians in Kashmir suffered pellet-related injuries during the 2016 protests following Burhan Wani's death.
- Currently a final-year BA student, Mushtaq advocated for a total national ban on pellet guns as the Supreme Court reviews their use.
- Pellet guns were first introduced as a crowd control tool in Kashmir in 2010 and have recently been deployed at Jantar Mantar.

## From Visual Trauma to Economic Independence

Insha Mushtaq, a resident of Seadow in Shopian, has secured a government-backed LPG distributorship a decade after a 2016 pellet gun incident left her permanently blind. Now a final-year Bachelor of Arts student, Mushtaq uses Braille and screen-reading software to navigate her education. Her journey toward financial stability reached a milestone on July 30, 2026, when the current administration approved ₹41.16 lakh to finalize the business facility granted to her as part of a rehabilitation effort.

## The Long Wait for Promised Aid

While the dealership was initially approved in 2018 during Mehbooba Mufti's tenure as Chief Minister, bureaucratic delays stalled the project for years. Mushtaq engaged with several high-ranking officials, including the Chief Secretary, to move the process forward. Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma stated that the current government under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah prioritized the release of these pending funds to fulfill past commitments. Sharma noted that while justice was delayed for the Shopian resident, the recent financial approval ensures the rehabilitation measure reaches its conclusion.

### A Legacy of the 2016 Unrest

Mushtaq's life changed in July 2016 during the widespread civil unrest following the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. While studying for her Class 8 exams near a window in her home, she was struck by a barrage of pellets fired by security forces. Despite undergoing multiple surgical procedures in Srinagar and Delhi, her vision could not be restored. According to Mushtaq, several pellets remain lodged in her eyes, necessitating regular medical monitoring to prevent infection. She is one of over 6,000 civilians who suffered pellet-related injuries during that period.

### Renewed Debate Over Crowd Control

The use of pellet guns as a non-lethal crowd control measure, first introduced in Kashmir in 2010, has faced renewed scrutiny following recent protests at Jantar Mantar. Mushtaq has called for a nationwide ban on the weapon, noting that the Supreme Court of India is currently examining its use. "Real action is required against pellet guns in the country," Mushtaq said, expressing hope that the legal system will address the impact these weapons have had on hundreds of civilians.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/path-to-recovery-insha-mushtaq-secures-livelihood-a-decade-after-pellet-trauma-mdsal
Reported from: The Hindu — National