Army to replace pellets with chilly-filled shells in Kashmir
- An expert committee setup by the Central government has recommended the replacing of pellet guns with PAVA shells.
- Security forces are being trained in the use of PAVA shells.
Security forces will shortly start using chilly-filled shells PAVA in crowd control in Kashmir, replacing the pellet guns  that had caused injuries to a large number of injuries, especially the loss of vision of several people.
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This follows the report of an expert committee which was set up amid an uproar over use of pellet guns by security forces in dealing with stone-pelting during the current unrest. Following an uproar, the committee was set up to suggest an alternative to the pellet guns.
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Every day, around 1000 PAVA shells are reaching Kashmir since September 5, sources said here today.
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Security forces are being trained in the use of PAVA shells and they will start using these in a few days, they said about the non-lethal weapon which temporarily incapacitates a human being without causing injuries.
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Pellet guns, which are considered non-lethal, have caused a large number of injuries, and in some cases even death. Many people have lost their vision during the unrest in the Valley, leading to demands that these be abandoned. A total of 6000 civilians have suffered injuries due to these weapons.
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The sources noted that pellet guns were first used during the unrest in 2010 when UPA government was in power at the Centre.
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Underlining that security forces have been exercising maximum restraint in dealing with attacks by violent mobs in Kashmir, the sources said a testimony in this regard was that over 5500 security personnel have been injured, which was the highest in the country's history during such situations.