Find alternatives to pellet guns: Apex court

Supreme Court has asked the central government to consider alternatives to pellet guns as it concerns “life and death”.

THE PETITION ACCUSED THE FORCES OF INDISCRIMINATE USE OF PELLET GUNS THAT HAS INFLICTED SERIOUS INJURIES ON YOUTH AND CHILDREN

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked the Centre on Monday to look for an alternative to pellet guns used in Kashmir on protestors who took to the streets in the aftermath of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wahi’s death last year.

“There is no question of the court saying what weapons to use, but the situation has arisen and we are a welfare state after all,” a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar told Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who submitted that the nature of weapons used by security forces could not be judicially determined.

“We are of an impression that there are other methods that can be adopted,” the bench said during the hearing of a petition filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, accusing the forces of indiscriminate use of pellet guns that has inflicted serious injuries on youths and children.

The Centre placed before the court the Ministry of home affairs’ October 2016 report on alternatives to pellet guns, but requested the court not to take it on record because it might fall into “undesirable hands.”

“We cannot tell between a citizen and a mercenary masquerading as a citizen when there is a mob. We are not denying that excessive force might have been used in certain cases, but the issue is not judicially manageable,” Rohatgi argued.

But, the court was of the view that there must be an alternative weapon and told Rohatgi that the strategy for its use could be tested at four-five selected places where protests were frequently held as it could help to reduce casualties to a great extent.

Expressing concern over the death of youngsters, it told Rohatgi: “Go by our spirit.” The court asked him to come up with further suggestions in two weeks’ time and posted the matter for April 10.