Srinagar, Sept 5: Police and paramilitary forces using the newly introduced pellet guns or pump action shotguns to control street protests haven’t received any formal training in handling the weapons. This is notwithstanding the apprehensions by experts and medicos that their misuse could prove fatal.
 Police sources disclosed to Greater Kashmir that the new weapons were alien to cops and paramilitary forces. “Such arms, normally used for hunting purposes, are being used in Kashmir for the first time. So before putting them to use, the cops should have been properly trained on how to use them,” they said. “But so far they haven’t received any formal training even as the guns have been used at several places.”
 Sources said cops were not trained in handling these weapons even in their training schools. “Even during the anti-mob drills we don’t teach the policemen the usage of pump-action guns, shotguns or pellet guns,” they said. “These are the sophisticated weapons and need to be carefully used. This time questions are being raised on the training of cops who fire the teargas shells at the protesters. So it is impossible for them to use non-lethal weapons unless they are made aware of them.”
 Few days back paramilitary CRPF fired cluster of pellets in Sopur and Soura on protesters in which 18-year old Muddasir Nazir of Sopur died and three others received multiple injuries. “Due to pellet firing almost whole small intestine of Muddasir was perforated with massive gangrene. He had also received multiple injuries in abdomen, chest and thighs,” said a medico at SKIMS where Muddasir succumbed to his injuries on past Thursday. “Pellets hit many organs of a victim at one time. So it is difficult for doctors to operate upon the victims.”
 On Monday, a 9-year-old youth from south Kashmir’s Islamabad district fell to pellets fired by police. At Maisuma, five persons were injured by pellets, one of whom is battling for life at the SMHS hospital here.
 “It depends on how the weapons are used. If you are shot by a pellet gun in the head or any other vital organ, it can certainly kill you. You have to avoid shooting it at a bare skin, eyes, ears or nose or any other sensitive organ of the body,” said a retired police officer, well-versed about the advantages and disadvantages of these weapons.
 The officer said pellets can’t be shot from a close range. “If you fire pellets at less than five feet range, it can prove fatal and possibly kill,” he said, adding that the pellet guns normally emit lead pellets which can be dangerous. “Bullets fired from the PAG burst into thousands of pellets. So they can cause injuries to many persons at a time. Similar is the case with teaser guns. You can’t fire them at people keeping in view the high sound they produce. That can immobilize a person temporarily or permanently depending on the range.”
 A police official, wishing anonymity, said the cops must be given proper training on how to use these weapons. “This can minimize casualties and ensure effective mob control. Otherwise it is futile to use these weapons. They can prove lethal,” he said.
 The CRPF Public Relations Officer, Prabhakar Tripathi said, “Our men have received formal training in using the pump action shot guns. No weapon is used by forces without any formal training.”
 The Inspector General of Police, SM Sahai, could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST