NEW DELHI: Following the outrage over the use of deadly pellets in Kashmir to combat the protestors, the Lok Sabha was Tuesday informed that less lethal plastic bullets will be used to tackle law and order situations in Jammu and Kashmir. Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir also said the government has no plans for enhanced use of bunkers to protect government forces from stone throwers after the annual shift of the capital from Jammu to Srinagar in the next few days.
“The government has decided to introduce less lethal plastic bullets also to be used in tackling law and order situations in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said in reply to a written question. The minister said the government has appointed Dineshwar Sharma, former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, as its representative to initiate and carry forward dialogue with the elected representatives, organisations and individuals concerned in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The response from the people of Jammu and Kashmir has been very positive. A large number of delegations and individuals representing various sections of society and particularly youths have already interacted with the Government of India representative,” he said. According to data compiled from official records by the J&K government for the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) at least 2,524 people were injured by pellets, many in the eyes, in eight of the 10 districts in the Kashmir valley during the crackdown on protests that followed the killing of militant Burhan Wani on July 8 last year. The pellets which were introduced in Kashmir Valley to minimize casualties’ aftermath the killing of over 130 youth during the civil agitation of 2010 have proved to be most lethal particularly in 2016 Kashmir Unrest.