Why in news?
SHRC report estimates reveals that approximately 2,500 people were injured by the use of pellet guns in J&K.
What type of weapon are pellet guns?
- They are a form of non-lethal crowd control methods used by police and military worldwide.
- The other popular methods are tear gas, water cannon, pepper spray, laser guns etc.
- Pellet guns are also popular in hunting and pest control.
- Pellet guns were first introduced in J&K after the 2010 protests, when 100 people were killed in firing by the security forces.
What does recent estimates reveals?
- Recently a report was submitted by the deputy commissioners of eight districts in Jammu and Kashmir to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC).
- The data reveals enormous costs social, political and economic of the indiscriminate use of pellet guns.
- It have revealed that at least 2,524 people were injured by the use of pellet guns by security forces during the July 2016 protests in J&K.
- The state government has confirmed the identity and nature of injuries of about 1,700 victims, including 59 women.
What are the necessary measures taken by the government?
- J&K government has announced compensation for the victims.
- This the first step taken towards addressing and alleviating the grave hurt and damage that injuries, especially the loss of eyesight, has caused to victims.
- State government had also planned to provide government jobs to those who have been blinded, apart from providing economic relief.
- The union government is also looking at non-lethal alternatives to pellet guns and planning to phase out the weapon completely.
Source: Indian Express
