India’s ‘cockroach’ protesters have wounds consistent with pellet-gun fire, say experts
The Indian capital city witnessed widespread violence on July 20, as tens of thousands of protesters attempted to march to the parliament in search of education reforms and the resignation of the education minister. The situation quickly escalated into a chaotic scene, with police and paramilitary personnel using batons, tear gas, and wooden sticks to disperse the crowd.
Independent ballistic experts have confirmed that injuries sustained by some CJP supporters during the protest were caused by pellet guns. These specialized shotguns are designed for bird hunting but fire cartridges containing 200-400 small metal pellets known as “birdshot.” When used against crowds, these pellets spread out in a wide arc and strike people indiscriminately.
Experts say that the injuries depicted on social media and photographs of injured protesters match those caused by pellet guns. UK-based ballistics forensic scientist Philip Boyce stated that the weapon used is a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, which is commonly employed for crowd control scenarios. “These pellet injuries can be quite devastating, especially at close range,” he said.
The use of pellet guns in India has been linked to several instances of injury and death since its introduction in 2010. In Indian-administered Kashmir, where pellet guns have been used extensively, official data compiled by Human Rights Watch shows that they have injured thousands of people, killed at least 17, and blinded dozens.
In Delhi, the situation was particularly volatile, with protesters being beaten with sticks and fired upon with tear gas. The government has not confirmed whether pellet guns were used on protesters during the crackdown, but independent armament and forensic experts say it is likely that they were employed in this manner.
The use of pellet guns raises concerns about their safety and efficacy as a crowd-control measure. While shotguns are commonly used for less-lethal purposes in many countries, including India, Indian law enforcement agencies have historically employed shotgun cartridges loaded with small lead pellets known as “birdshot” in crowd control scenarios.
Experts warn that the pellets can result in life-changing or occasionally life-threatening injuries and may also cause toxic lead to be deposited on the body. This has led some countries to restrict their use or ban them altogether.
The incident in Delhi serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between protesters and security forces in India, particularly in areas where pellet guns have been used extensively. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether authorities will take steps to address these concerns and ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future.
Source: BBC World
Based on reporting from BBC World.
