Pellet Gun Causalities

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