"The pellet guns are one of the many options that we will use when we operate to control protesters in the coming days. PAVA (packed with chilli) shells have a long shelf life and they are good in certain situations… But we have made it clear that the CRPF man on ground will use whatever the situation demands. However, we have asked our men to fire at the feet now," K Durga Prasad, Director General of CRPF, told Media.
Indian forces are also modifying pellet guns to make them less lethal. New pellet guns will be attached with metal deflector on the muzzle end to prevent the pellets to going up from the aim. "By using deflector there is only a two per cent chance that the shot fired may hit above the point of aim as compared to the rate of 40 per cent earlier," CRPF officer said.
According to official figure, there were 142 incidents of stone pelting reported on CRPF camps since July last year when forces had gunned down a local militant Burhan Wani in an encounter.