Now, security forces to use plastic bullets for crowd control in Kashmir Valley

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, Apr 17, 2017 : The security forces would henceforth use plastic bullets as their first course of action in crowd control in Kashmir Valley while pellet guns to be used only as a last option, a media report said on Monday.

 

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the security forces to use plastic bullets against the stone-pelters in the Valley and pellet guns to be used only as a last resort, the ANI news agency reported.

The Supreme Court had last month asked the Centre to consider effective means other than the use of pellet guns to quell stone pelting mobs in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar also expressed concern over injuries suffered by minors involved in protests in the Valley and asked the government what action has been taken by it against their parents.

The apex court had asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to file a detailed reply on what alternate effective steps could be taken to deal with such situation of agitating mobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

On December 14 last year, the apex court had said pellet guns should not be used "indiscriminately" for controlling street protests in Jammu and Kashmir and be resorted to only after "proper application of mind" by the authorities.

A bench headed by the then Chief Justice T S Thakur had issued notices to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government while seeking their replies on a plea alleging "excessive" use of pellet guns in the state.

The apex court had also sought the assistance of Attorney General on the issue and asked him to submit a copy of the report submitted by the Expert Committee constituted for exploring other alternatives to pellet guns.

The Opposition National Conference has been criticizing the Mehbooba Mufti-led government over the handling of students’ protests in the Valley.

"I hope @MehboobaMufti has thought through the implications of mass student protests across the valley. This is a deeply worrying situation (sic)," the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister wrote on his Twitter handle.

"Why could all colleges/universities not have been closed for a few days after the Pulwama clashes? Is @MehboobaMufti not alert to situation? (sic)," he wrote in another tweet after college students across the Valley took to the streets.

The students were protesting against the alleged high- handedness of security forces while dealing with a similar protest at the Pulwama degree college on Saturday.

Scores of students were injured in the resulting clashes over the weekend.

Omar has been a vocal critic of the Mehbooba-led government alleging that it had failed to provide leadership and direction to the people of the state.

Courtesy:ZeeNews