Why are pellet guns used as a ‘non-lethal’ crowd-control measure? | Explained
The article discusses the use of pellet guns and shock batons as crowd-control measures by security forces in India, particularly in the context of recent protests in Delhi. It highlights an incident where a protester sustained pellet gun injuries and mentions the Delhi Police's denial of their use, despite the deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), which carries such gear. The article details what pellet guns are, their history of deployment (first in J&K in 2010), their 'non-lethal' but potentially harmful nature, and the introduction of 'plastic bullets' as an alternative in 2017. It also covers the specifications and prescribing authority for shock batons by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Border Security Force (BSF). Recent uses in farmers' protests (2024) and Manipur (2023) are also noted.
The article discusses the use of pellet guns and shock batons as crowd-control measures by security forces in India, particularly in the context of recent protests in Delhi. It highlights an incident where a protester sustained pellet gun injuries and mentions the Delhi Police's denial of their use, despite the deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), which carries such gear. The article details what pellet guns are, their history of deployment (first in J&K in 2010), their 'non-lethal' but potentially harmful nature, and the introduction of 'plastic bullets' as an alternative in 2017. It also covers the specifications and prescribing authority for shock batons by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through the Border Security Force (BSF). Recent uses in farmers' protests (2024) and Manipur (2023) are also noted.
Exam linkage
GS Paper 2: Indian Polity, Governance, Social Justice