ASSOCIATED PRESS Image from a protest in New Delhi on Wednesday

SRINAGAR, Jammu & Kashmir—The Modi government’s decision to nullify Article 370 and divide Jammu & Kashmir into two Union territories has claimed its first civilian victim—a 17-year-old boy named Osaib Altaf, from Srinagar’s Palpora area—HuffPost India has learnt.

Separately, a visit to Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, and interviews with hospital authorities, revealed 13 additional cases of pellet injuries. At least some of these pellet injuries were to the eyes of these victims.

Altaf’s family told HuffPost India that he was among a group of boys who were near a playground in their locality, when they were chased away by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, on the afternoon of Monday August 5 2019. The same day, home minister Amit Shah announced the government’s plans to bifurcate the state in the Rajya Sabha.

The boys ran to a footbridge over a river, where they were cornered by the CRPF.

“All of them were cornered by CRPF men on a footbridge as they had come from two opposite sides of the bridge. Seeing no way out, the boys jumped into the river. While others were saved by the quick response of labourers extracting sand on the river, Osaib couldn’t make it. He didn’t know swimming. He remained in the water for 20 minutes,” Altaf’s father, Mohammad Altaf Marazi, said.

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Two of the boys were admitted to hospital by local people, while Altaf’s body was brought home, said Marazi.

A subsequent PTI report quoted unnamed officials who confirmed that one person was killed when he jumped into the Jhelum river after he was chased by the CRPF “because of confusion over curfew”.

An India Today report, published late Wednesday night, said the person who drowned was a “protestor”. Neither reports referred to Osaib Altaf by name.

The government’s shock move to scrap the special status accorded to Jammu & Kashmir has been accompanied by an unprecedented communications clampdown on Kashmiris. Mobile, landline and internet services have been cut in many parts of the state, especially the Valley, and the social media channels and websites of ordinary Kashmiris and local publications have been silent for more than 2 days now.

Since Monday, the movement of civilians has been severely curtailed and most people have been staying inside their homes.

This reporter managed to reach Altaf’s residence in Srinagar around midnight on Tuesday, after several unsuccessful attempts through the day.

Officials at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital in Srinagar said they were not authorised to speak to media over any incidents of violence involving government and police forces.

“We can’t share the information with you as it creates problems for us,” a senior official of SMHS hospital told HuffPostIndia on condition of anonymity. “We have been told to not to give any information to the media.”