New Delhi: The Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Mr. K. Durga Prasad felt sorry for “sorry” for injuries caused to people while using pellet guns and said it will continue using them in Jammu and Kashmir. At a press conference in the capital on July 25 he said that they were studying the varieties of pellet guns that is available globally so that a less lethal options are available. “We feel sorry for the pellet injuries in Kashmir. CRPF personnel have been asked to aim below the knee level. We are examining versions for pellet guns available worldwide to identify less lethal options”, Mr. Durga Prasad said. When all options fail then Pellet guns are used he said. He added, “We use pellet guns when the situation is going out of control and where loss of life [of jawans] is imminent. We use them only in extreme situations”. The CRPF personnel fired 2223 times from the pellet after the Kashmir unrest started following the gunning down of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter on July 8. The pellet guns are being used since for more than six years now and they are manufactured by Indian Ordnance Factory in Ishapore, West Bengal, he said. The CRPF also fired 136 stun grenades to control the people who were pelting stones at the forces. “It is not everything. CRPF fired 892 tear smoke grenades, 1048 rubber bullets, 103 multi button shells and 1614 plastic pellets before firing from pellet guns; 4821 smoke shells were also fired to disperse the stone-pelters,” said Mr. Prasad. The 1051 jawans injured in stone-pelting incidents would be would be compensated by the CRPF, the officer added.]]>
