Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Video Producer: Viraj Gaur
(With video inputs from Syed Shahriyar, Srinagar)
Khursheed Ahmad, a head constable in CRPF, who was riddled with eight bullets in a militant attack in 2016 has rejoined duty in Srinagar.
Ahmad fought a long battle with spinal injury that doctors said may leave him unable to walk. But he emerged victorious.
He now works at the office, “For my colleagues, I now handle paperwork related to passes, transfers, as well as other office work.”
On 25 June 2016, Ahmad and other CRPF jawans were returning after shooting practice in Lethpura when 4 militants suddenly opened fire on them. Eight CRPF jawans died and 22 were injured in this militant ambush.
Severely injured, Ahmad was in the ICU for 2 months. He was then shifted to the AIIMS trauma centre in Delhi, where he started showing signs of recovery.
“I told them to let go of me. I felt my legs shaking, but I was able to stand. I told them to hand me the walker.”
After his experience, Ahmad says that an air ambulance is necessary for the CRPF since doctors in disturbed areas are pressured to not treat injured military personnel properly.
“If there’s an air ambulance for the CRPF, that would be for the best because they will be able to immediately airlift jawans and officers and take them to the nearest hospital,” he says.
Ahmad thanks his family and the CRPF for supporting him through the ordeal. But he also claims that the state government of Jammu and Kashmir did not provide him with any help.
“I’ve not received a rupee’s worth of help from the state government. If I have been injured in a state, the state should help me out,” he says.
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