Amnesty pushes to end use of pellet guns

Rights body Amnesty International released its report in Srinagar on Wednesday on the use of pellet guns to quell protests and called for an end to the controversial weapon’s use in the strife-torn Valley.

The widespread use of the weapon during the unrest in the Valley last year killed several and blinded hundreds.

“In his Independence Day speech, PM Narendra Modi said change in Kashmir will not come from guns or abuses — na goli, na gaali. If the government truly means this, they must end use of pellet-firing shotguns, which have caused immense suffering in Kashmir,” Aakar Patel, executive director at Amnesty International India, said in a statement.

The organisation’s report, Losing Sight in Kashmir: The Impact of Pellet-Firing Shotguns, includes several photos of blinded pellet victims.

“Authorities claim the pellet shotgun is not lethal, but the injuries and deaths caused by this cruel weapon bear testimony to how dangerous, inaccurate and indiscriminate it is. There is no proper way to use pellet-firing shotguns. It is irresponsible of authorities to continue the use of these shotguns despite being aware of the damage they do,” Patel added.

Amnesty officials said information they obtained through RTI applications suggested that the use of inaccurate pellet-firing shotguns by security forces had injured other personnel too.

“Authorities have a duty to maintain public order, but using pellet shotguns is not the solution,” said Patel.

“Forces must address stone throwing or other violence by protesters by means that allow for better targeting or more control over the harm caused,” he added.