Srinagar: In occupied Kashmir, despite strong opposition to lethal pellets by the international community, Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has said that the troops will continue to use pellets on the protesting youth.
CRPF spokesman Rajesh Yadav in a media interview while justifying the use of pellets said, “Whosoever will throw stones, we will react with force. We cannot afford to be sitting ducks and be pelted by stones.â€
“We will use the pellets that have been provided by the authorities to control the protests in Kashmir. This weapon is not ours but the authorities have given it to us, and we will use it. We are not doing anything illegal by using it,†Yadav said.
While dealing with student protests over the past one month and with the protests after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Sabzar Ahmad Butt on Saturday, pellets were used often and were fired directly on the upper part of the body, injuring one man in his eye.
Six persons were injured due to pellets fired by forces on May 27. Most of them had pellet injuries above the waist. A pellet victim from Shopian, Ghulam Sheikh, a cobbler by profession, was admitted to SMHS Hospital with pellet injuries above his waist and in his left eye.
