TVSN Prasad committee formed for exploring possible alternatives to Pellet Guns

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on 26 July 2016 constituted a seven-member expert committee for exploring possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.

The committee will be chaired by Joint Secretary (Police Modernisation) TVSN Prasad. It has been asked to submit its report within two months.

The committee was constituted to rethink on the use of pellet guns after its use by CRPF for crowd control in Kashmir was blamed for causing fatal injuries and blindness among protestors during the recent unrest.

Other members of the committee are

• Atul Karwal, IG, CRPF, Srinagar

• Rajeev Krishna, IG, BSF

• Rajesh Kumar of J&K Police

• Tushar Tripathy of Indian Ordnance Factory Board

• Manjit Singh of Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh

• Naresh Bhatnagar of IIT, Delhi

As per report, since killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, CRPF personnel fired some 2102 pellet cartridges in the valley. The pellets were fired to disperse protesters.

Pellet guns, which are loaded with lead balls, have been categorised as a non-lethal weapon.

It is fired from an air gun. It has the capability of causing fatal injuries by penetrating deep into the skin. Generally, it is used to disperse crowds. Pellet guns are being used since 2010 in Kashmir to disperse and control crowd. 

Background

Earlier, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced in Parliament that a committee would be set up to review the use of pellet guns and find an alternative.

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