 "Centre may replace pellet guns with PAVA shells: Here are 5 things you need to know")
With eye injuries caused by use of pellet guns turning into a raging issue in Jammu and Kashmir, a Home Ministry panel has suggested replacing pellet guns with “less lethal” PAVA shells, a chilli-based non-lethal munition which temporarily incapacitates the targets and renders them immobile for several minutes.
A seven-member panel, including officers from home ministry, BSF, CRPF, J&K Police, IIT Delhi and Ordnance Factory Board was set to look into alternatives to the pellet guns that has caused massive damage to thousands of protestors in Kashmir that started after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on July 8.
Here are five things to know about PAVA shells
1. What are these shells made of ?
PAVA shells contain Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, an organic compound found in chilli pepper. It derives its name from the compound, which is also known as Nonivamide. It is considered to be bio-safe, less lethal than pellet guns and equally effective.
It is also used as a food additive to add pungency, flavouring and spicy effect to food.
2. What is the extent of damage caused by PAVA shells?
According to the panel, the compound will cause severe irritation and paralyse the person for a short duration. On the Scoville scale (the degree to measure the power of chilli), PAVA is categorised as "above peak", having a temporary effect.
Once fired, the shells burst out to temporarily stun, immobilise the target (protestors) in a more effective way than a tear gas shell or pepper sprays, and can also be used in combination with stun and tear shells.
3. How did these shells come about?
Although the panel tested the maiden shells earlier this week, The Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow has been working on the shells over a year now.
The committee, in favour of PAVA shells has recommended the government to “immediately” ask the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force in Gwalior to produce 50,000 PAVA shells as the first lot.
4. If not PAVA shells, what are the other alternatives?
Other alternatives discussed by the panel include “dye marker grenade with irritant” which not only causes sensory trouble to the target, but leaves a dye mark on them for easy identification by security forces.
Other options discussed are "tear smoke shell with soft nose" which does not leave the target with any serious injury when hit directly and “stun grenade” which leads temporary stunning of the target, causing a blinding flash for few minutes.
5. When will an alternative to pellet guns come into effect?
Although a final decision on the incorporation of PAVA shells is yet to be taken, Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that an alternative to pellet guns would be found in the coming days. He said an all-party delegation would visit the Valley, which has suffered unrest for the past 47 days, soon and find a solution.
