Srinagar, Mar 12: The Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has decided to seek opinion from health experts regarding the ill-effects of pepper gas on people.
Officials said the Commission has decided to seek opinion from a team of doctors including Parvaiz Kaul, Head of Department, Internal Pulmonary Medicine SKIMS, Dr Javaid Malik, Associate Professor Medical College Bemina and Dr Muzaffar Mirza, HOD Chest Diseases Hospital. The team has been asked to give their expert opinion on effects of pepper gas on people.
The Commission has also asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to produce certificate of the Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) regarding chemical combination of pepper gas.
“The Commission is conscious of the statement of Law Minister in the Assembly that the law enforcing agencies have been asked not to use such substances which are harmful to people’s health. We honor the assurance but at the same time reiterate our direction to police not to use pepper gas while maintaining law and order,” the Commission held.
The case will be heard by Division Bench of the Commission on March 18.
The Commission last year had asked the state government to refrain from using excessive pepper gas for crowd dispersal, saying it is harmful for health.  Last week the Commission came down heavily on police for failing to desist from using pepper gas while maintaining law and order in Srinagar.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:00:00 IST