Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on Wednesday sent three eye specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, to Jammu and Kashmir to provide medical assistance amid the ongoing clashes in the state. The high-level team will help the state treat pellet injuries among those injured in the protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani, The Indian Express reported.

Although not fatal, the pellets used by security personnel to control the clashes could cause permanent damage to those hit, include loss of eyesight. As many as 92 eye surgeries were performed at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital in Srinagar till July 11 since the violence in the state began.

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Three more protesters died in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, and two more people were reportedly killed on Thursday bringing the toll to 37. While two of them succumbed to their injuries in hospital, one was killed by police in Anantnag. The killing in Anantnag has not been confirmed, amid reports of continuing unrest in 13 regions in the state, The Hindu reported.

Despite Prime Minister Naredra Modi appealing for the violence in the Kashmir Valley to end, officials said they plan to continue their crackdown against militants. A security official believes that only some 100 home-grown militants remain in the state, and the number of fighters crossing over from Pakistan has reduced, Reuters reported.

Separatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday urged Pakistan-occupied Kashmir “to join them in the protests”. They also said in a joint statement that they want the United Nations to ”come forward and take solid steps to resolve the Kashmir issue”.

Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani when the separatist leader, who is currently under house arrest, tried to visit Martyrs graveyard (Mazar-e-Shohada) in Srinagar on the occasion of 86th Kashmir Martyrs Day. Police, however, said Geelani was released later, reported The Indian Express.