Over 30 killed due to pellets since 2008
Srinagar, Sep 18, 2016, DHNS:
As many as 30 people have lost their lives after being hit by pellet gunfire and tear-smoke shells during clashes over the past eight years in Kashmir.
Official records reveal that 17 people were killed by pellet guns during the 2010 and 2016 unrests, while 13 civilians lost their lives after being hit by teargas shells in vital parts of their body during the period. In the ongoing unrest, 11 civilians have been killed by pellet gunfire, while three have lost their lives after being lobbed by teargas shells, the records state.
During the 2010 protests, when pellet guns were used for the first time, six people lost their lives due to the use of the “non-lethal weapon”.
This has raised questions on the use of the non-lethal weapons by security forces while dealing with protesters in Kashmir. “The fatalities by non-lethal weapons are showing an alarming increase and this is a matter of serious concern,” a former police officer, requesting anonymity, told DH.
He said authorities have not learnt any lessons from the 2008 and 2010 agitations as people continue to get killed and maimed due to the use of pellets and teargas shells. “Authorities need to not only find benign methods of crowd control, but also train forces so that they are able to handle street protests and use riot-control weapons properly,” he suggested.
Official records reveal that 17 people were killed by pellet guns during the 2010 and 2016 unrests, while 13 civilians lost their lives after being hit by teargas shells in vital parts of their body during the period. In the ongoing unrest, 11 civilians have been killed by pellet gunfire, while three have lost their lives after being lobbed by teargas shells, the records state.
During the 2010 protests, when pellet guns were used for the first time, six people lost their lives due to the use of the “non-lethal weapon”.
This has raised questions on the use of the non-lethal weapons by security forces while dealing with protesters in Kashmir. “The fatalities by non-lethal weapons are showing an alarming increase and this is a matter of serious concern,” a former police officer, requesting anonymity, told DH.
He said authorities have not learnt any lessons from the 2008 and 2010 agitations as people continue to get killed and maimed due to the use of pellets and teargas shells. “Authorities need to not only find benign methods of crowd control, but also train forces so that they are able to handle street protests and use riot-control weapons properly,” he suggested.
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