“Since yesterday, 1,000 shells have already arrived here”, said Singh, a senior figure in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist ruling party.
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Official sources said, Home Minister Rajnath Singh cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) shells also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns. 28-MEMBER DELEGATION TO VISIT J&K Meanwhile, a 28-member all-party delegation geared up to visit the Valley to assess the “the ground situation”.
The pellet guns are meant to minimise fatalities in protests although the law gives the armed forces a relatively free hand to use lethal force, especially against suspected militants. Kashmir has been witnessing largescale violence since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani on July 8. The pellet guns were put into use in 2010 when more then 100 people were killed during a series of stone-pelting protests in the Kashmir valley. The use of PAVA was recommended by a sevenmember expert committee, headed by Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry T V S N Prasad, in its report submitted on August 29.
A city-based CSIR lab has given its nod to pelargonic acid vanillyl amide (PAVA) shells, a chilli powder-based non-lethal ammunition, which might replace the much-maligned pellet guns for crowd control.
“I understand that no one will lose their life due to the use of PAVA”, Singh said.
Despite an nearly continuous curfew in most parts of the troubled Himalayan region since the July killing of rebel commander Burhan Wani, thousands of people have defied government troops and poured into the streets on an nearly daily basis.
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Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over the predominantly Muslim region. Most Kashmiris want an end to Indian rule and favor independence or a merger with Pakistan.
