Rajnath Singh approves expert panel to explore alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons

With over hundred people being treated for severe eye injuries after security forces fired pellet guns to contain violence triggered after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani in Kashmir, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the constitution of a seven-member expert committee for exploring the other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.

The committee was formed under the chairmanship of T.V.S.N. Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, and comprised Atul Karwal, IG, CRPF, Srinagar; Rajeev Krishna, IG (Ops.), BSF; Rajesh Kumar, IPS, J-K Police; Tushar Tripathy, IOFS, DDG, Small Arms, OFB; Dr. Manjit Singh, Director, TBRL, Chandigarh; and Dr. Naresh Bhatnagar, Professor, IIT, Delhi.

The committee will submit its report within two months.

As per reports, CRPF personnel fired 2,223 times from pellet guns, which have been in use in the Valley since 2010 and are manufactured by Indian Ordnance Factory in Ishapore, West Bengal.