The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has informed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court that if pallet guns are banned as a crowd control measure, it will remain with no choice but to use real bullets in extreme situations, which can cause more fatalities.

The affidavit submitted by the CRPF to HC on Wednesday reads, “In case, this (pellet gun) is withdrawn from the options available with the CRPF, CRPF personnel would have no recourse in extreme situations but to open fire with rifles, which may cause more fatalities.”

The affidavit has been submitted before the court in response to a PIL filed before the court to ban the use of the pallet guns as a mean for crowd control mechanism in the valley.

The force has said that pallet guns are accepted as weapon of riot control since 2010. It added that following standard operations procedure while dealing with major law and order problem is difficult in case of moving, bending and running target.

According to the SOP regarding the use of firearms for crowd control in extreme situations, the weapon be aimed below the waist.

It said, “But the situation prevailing on the streets during an ongoing law and order incident is dynamic and mobile. In such a situation, sometimes it is difficult to go in for precise aimed fire at a moving, bending and running target.”

According to the CRPF, it fired around 3,500 pallet cartridges from July 9 to August 11 during violence by protesters in the valley.

Also Read: CRPF Personnel Suspended For Firing At Ambulance Driver In Srinagar

By Prajakt K.