Blinded by Pellets, 15-Year-Old Shopian Girl Clears 10th Grade

Insha Mushtaq was blinded by pellet cartridges during the 2016 unrest in the valley.

15-year-old Insha Mushtaq poses for a photograph with her father after clearing her 10th board exams.

(Photo: The Quint)

15-year-old Insha Mushtaq, who was blinded by pellet cartridges during unrest in the Kashmir valley in 2016, cleared her 10th standard board exams on Tuesday, 9 January.

Insha scored grade points of eight each in Urdu and science, six in English and seven in social science, reported Hindustan Times.

Insha’s world went dark when pellets hailed on her forehead while looking out through a street facing window.

After I was pelleted on 11 July, I started studying for exams. I am very happy that I passed my board exams. I didn’t have the hope that I would pass. I would like to do higher studies. I would like to thank my mother and father for the support. 

Insha Mushtaq

The teenager’s father is happy and says that his daughter’s resilience has paid off.

She persevered a lot for her exams. I am very happy today that she has passed. The last eighteen months have been a difficult time for us. My daughter wants to study further. 

Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Insha’s father

Insha who studied the Braille system from a teacher in Islamabad, wrote her exams with the help of a local student from Shopian who offered to write the exam for her as she dictated. Insha’s kin express gratitude for the local student who helped her.

I am very thankful to Insha’s writer who is a local studying in the 9th grade. Insha’s future looks very bright. Unfortunately, there is no Braille faculty available at Shopian. This is not a matter related just to Insha. There is also another pellet victim in Shopian. 

A relative of Mushtaq

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to appreciate Insha.

The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) announced the results of Class 10 school finals on Tuesday and around 62% students passed the exams, reported Hindustan Times.

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam