The much talked about PAVA (Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide) shells, considered as a replacement for pellets in Kashmir, have already been used by the CRPF during the ongoing uprising in Kashmir, a media report said today.
According to an affidavit filed by the Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the PAVA shells were already used as an alternative in Kashmir during present unrest, The Indian Express reported.
Two days ago, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in Srinagar that an expert committee will suggest an alternative for pellet guns. It was widely believed that the committee has zeroed in on PAVA shells.
But paramilitary’s affidavit said that its personnel deployed across Kashmir have fired 800 shells of hot PAVA projectiles (pepper balls) between July 8 and August 11, the report said.
“Apart from this, the paramilitary force has used tear smoke shells (8,650), stun shells (158), stun grenades (277), rubber bullets (1,715), tear smoke grenades (840), plastic pellets (2671), pump action gun 12 bore cartridge shot no 9 pellets (3,765), Multi Baton cartridge (201), oleoresin grenades (502), Dye Marker grenades (five), Stinger grenades (61), electric shells (14) and blank cartridge (5),” the reported said while quoting the affidavit.
Inspector General, CRPF (Srinagar) Atul Karwal, submitted the affidavit on August 17 in response to a PIL filed by J&K High Court Bar Association, seeking ban on the use of pellets in the Valley.
Further the report, quoting its sources said, the expert committee, which is yet to file its report to the Home Ministry, is considering PAVA shells along with CONDOR rubber bullets, teargas shells with enhanced potency and marker and stun grenades as an alternative to pellet guns.
(GK)