The Centre is putting emphasis on the baton rather than the bullet in dealing with the separatist violence in Jammu & Kashmir. The government has ordered a new anti-riot gear for the CRPF which includes six-feet long fibre-glass batons, including electric ones, to enable the paramilitary force’s jawans to deal with rioters “from a distance”. Also, bamboo shields used by the CRPF personnel till now will be replaced by those made from light-weight polycarbonate shields to provide cover from stone-pelting mobs. The force personnel will also be provided with gas masks and state-of -the art anti-riot guns and pistols having limited lethality to battle mobs.
The aim is to counter the anti-CRPF propaganda by separatist elements who are using the incidents of firing by CRPF as an excuse to prolong the agitation in the Valley, government sources said. “The old strategy of the separatists is to discredit the state government,” a senior MHA official said. The Omar Abdullah government has already come under fire for being unable to prevent the firing incidents in the Valley as more than 20 people, mostly teenagers, have lost their lives in police firing and teargas shelling.
Home ministry officials, who are closely monitoring the situation in J&K, said that re-equipping the paramilitary force will help them exercise maximum restraint while battling violent protestors. “The new gear is expected to help the jawans disperse large gatherings,” an official said.
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Devices to tackle rioters by DRDO
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
The Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed “weapons” useful for low intensity conflicts, (temporary) incapacitation and mob-control situations such as chilli-based hand grenades, tear-gas grenades and plastic bullets, the government informed Parliament last week.