CRPF sends 21,000 plastic bullets to Kashmir

CRPF has sent 21,000 rounds of newly-developed and less lethal plastic bullets to the Kashmir Valley to tackle protests.

For representational purposes

MEERUT: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sent 21,000 rounds of newly-developed and “less lethal” plastic bullets to the Kashmir Valley to tackle protests there, the paramilitary force’s top officer said.

The bullets, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by the Ordnance factory in Pune, can be fitted to the AK series of assault rifles and will be an alternative to the much-criticised pellet shotguns.

“Tests have shown that these plastic bullets are less lethal. This will reduce our dependence on pellet guns and other non-lethal weapons used for crowd control,” CRPF director-general R R Bhatnagar said. He said this will be the newest less lethal ammunition the force has introduced in the Valley. “About 21,000 rounds have just been sent to our units,” he added.

The CRPF, deployed in counter-insurgency and law and order operations in Jammu and Kashmir, had ordered the plastic bullets so that troops can just replace lethal metal bullets and use the plastic ones.
Bhatnagar said both AK-47 and AK-56 rifles are used by CRPF units in the Kashmir Valley. The bullets have been prepared in such a calibre that they fit the barrel, he added. “As soon as a stone pelting incident is encountered, troops just need to change the bullets and fire,” he said.

Bhatnagar added that the force has not done away with the other non-lethal weapons and is getting more pump-action guns fitted with metal deflectors so that pellet injuries are not inflicted above the waist of a protester.

“Even our specialised anti-riot unit, the Rapid Action Force can use it at some point of time. We will see how to go about it,” the DG said.

The use of pellets in the Kashmir Valley came under heavy criticism after protesters suffered grievous injuries, including blindness in some cases.

What are plastic bullets?

• They are made of PVC, usually 10 cm long and 38 mm in diameter.
• They are fired a specialised gun but can be made to fit conventional riot-control weapons.
• The most commonly used plastic bullet is the 25 grain Teflon bullet, which weighs 135 g.
• Plastic bullets are called less-lethal because they quickly lose speed as they are lighter in weight.
• The bullets are designed to be effective in the 33-64 m range.
• First used in 1973 by the British security forces against rioters in Northern Ireland.
• They were developed to replace rubber bullets to reduce fatalities.
• Unlike other riot-control projectiles, they can be fired directly at a rioter.
• Although, they are said to be less lethal, they can dangerous if fired at close range.
• Plastic bullets inflict bruises and abrasions but can cause bone fractures, internal injuries and even death.
• Studies have shown that the fatality rate of plastic bullets is on 3857 bullets fired.