A mix of spices and phosphorous used in the weapon chokes the enemy’s respiratory tract, leaving targets barely able to breathe for a while as their eyes, throat and skin burn and sting
|| ARIF GULZAR
After much protests and agitation against the usage of pellet guns in Kashmir, an alternative to the “nonlethal” weapon has been zeroed in. A panel constituted by the home ministry to find an alternative to pellet guns for crowd control has given go-ahead to use of PAV guns – a chillibased ammunition, which is “less lethal” and immobilizes the target temporarily. The demonstration was held at a test field earlier this week and the committee gave their assent for use by forces during protests in Kashmir which is in the midst of uprising in the wake of killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani on July 8.
The ‘PAVA shells’, as per the blueprint prepared in this regard were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow, and its full development has come at a time when Kashmir is on the boil. Sources close to the committee said it has favoured ‘PAVA shells’ as an alternative to pellet guns and has recommended that the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) of the BSF in Gwalior should be tasked with bulk production of the shells “immediately”, with the first lot not of less than 50,000 rounds.
The name ‘PAVA’ stands for Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, also called Nonivamide, and is an organic compound found characteristically in natural chilli pepper. On the Scoville scale (the degree to measure the power of chilli), PAVA is categorised as “above peak” meaning it will severely irritate and paralyse humans, but temporarily. It is also used as a food additive to add pungency, flavouring and spicy effect to food. The committee, the blueprint said, found that ‘PAVA’ can be categorised in the less-lethal category. Once fired, the shells burst and temporarily stun, immobilise and paralyse the target (protestors) in a more effective way than a tear gas shell or pepper sprays.
A website, www.cainstructor.com, explains how the chilli-based weapon is used. It says the mix of spices and phosphorous chokes the enemy’s respiratory tract, leaving targets barely able to breathe for a while as their eyes, throat and skin burn and sting. The Government of India decided to replace the pellet guns after it faced strong criticism from human rights organization in the wake of magnitude of injuries caused by the metallic pellets.
The union home ministry panel constituted to find an alternative to pellet guns for crowd control has given go-ahead to use of PAV guns – a chillibased ammunition
During the ongoing protests in Kashmir more than 600 persons have received injuries in their eyes after being hit by the pellets. While at least 30 persons suffered severe injuries in both of their eyes, 12 another persons have lost one eye completely due to the impact of the pellet at the time of incident. “The expert committee set by Home Minister Rajnath Singh to find alternative to pellet guns being used in Kashmir to control violent crowds today submitted its report amidst speculations that it had not recommended total ban on pellets, but their use in rarest of rare cases,” said a source.
During the ongoing uprising more than 600 persons have received injuries in their eyes after being hit by the pellets. While at least 30 persons suffered severe injuries in both of their eyes, 12 another persons have lost one eye completely due to the impact of the pellet at the time of incident.
The seven-member Expert Committee headed by T V S N Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs for exploring the other possible alternatives to Pellet Guns as Non-lethal Weapons submitted its report to the Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in New Delhi on August 29. Among the options that were being considered by the committed included Skunk grenades,, which were used by the Israeli forces. The weapon, according to Mistral Security Inc., “is waterbased, biodegradable, vile smelling liquid. The stench of Skunk immediately causes individuals and crowds to cease their activities in order to avoid the smell. It is an effective tool – that provides law enforcement the capability to rapidly and effectively disperse highly motivated individuals or to dissuade unruly crowds from potential violent escalations”.
The Condor Rubber Bullets, which are reportedly extensively used by the UN peacekeeping forces was among the choice on the table for the committee. These rubber bullets are said to be effective on controlling small crowds. Besides, there were reports about the Pepper guns also which was used previously in Kashmir to disperse crowds. Once fired, they cause a burning sensation and nausea. They’ve been used in several protests around the world, including in Ferguson in the US. The FN303 gun was the other choice being considered by the committee, as per the sources. This gun, said to be another non-lethal alternate, fires a spherical, fin-stabilised projectile. It claims to provide than a standard paintball round.
“The forward half of the sphere is a non-toxic granulated bismuth shell designed to fragment on impact to prevent penetration damage. The rear half of the sphere contains one of several colour-coded liquid payloads which could include permanent paint, could be used to identify suspects later, or Oleorsin capsicum or pepper spray which could be used to control crowds. However the PAVA shells, according to the sources were being zeroed in on by the committee after “weighing all the option”.
It has however interestingly come to the fore that the PAVA shells have been used in the ongoing unrest in the Valley, an affidavit filed by CRPF in J&K High Court revealed. According to the affidavit which revealed that the forces used 1.3 million pellets in Kashmir during the first month of uprising also brought to the fore that the CRPF personnel deployed across Kashmir have fired 800 shells of hot PAVA projectiles (pepper balls) between July 8 and August 11. Apart from this, the paramilitary force has used tear smoke shells (8,650), stun shells (158), stun grenades (277), rubber bullets (1,715), tear smoke grenades (840), plastic pellets (2671), pump action gun 12 bore cartridge shot no 9 pellets (3,765), Multi Baton cartridge (201), oleoresin grenades (502), Dye Marker grenades (five), Stinger grenades (61), electric shells (14) and blank cartridge (5). Inspector General, CRPF (Srinagar) Atul Karwal, submitted the affidavit on August 17 in response to a PIL filed by J&K High Court Bar Association, seeking ban on the use of pellets in the Valley.
