Amnesty slams state and Central governments for using pellet guns

Amnesty International India has asked for an immediate ban on the use of pellet shotguns in Kashmir as  means to control crowds.

At  a symposium organised on Wednesday in Srinagar, Amnesty released a book that tells the story of 88 persons who have lost their vision because of pellets used by the security forces and police from 2014 to mid 2017. The organisation said that pellet guns were responsible “for blinding, killing and traumatising hundreds of people in Kashmir”.

In its report, Amnesty has said: “School and university students who were hit in the eyes said that they continue to have learning difficulties. Several victims who were the primary bread winners for their families fear they will not be able to work any longer. Many have not regained their eye-sight despite repeated surgeries.”

“Amnesty International India calls on the Central government and the government of Jammu and Kashmir to immediately stop the use of pellet-firing shotguns and ensure that the use of all other weapons is in line with international human rights standards on use of force,” the organisation said in a press release.