Should pellet guns be used to control violent protests? Experts weigh in
New Delhi: The use of pellet guns during the recent protests in Delhi over reforms on July 20 has sparked a massive debate across the country. While the protests were conducted against the NEET paper leaks, it soon turned violent with police forced to use lathi charges and tear gas. They are are also allegations that security forces even used pellet guns to disperse the mob.
Speaking to News9 Executive Editor Kartikeya Sharma, Retired Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director Yashovardhan Azad, Rights & Risks Analysis Group Director Suhas Chakma and Major Amit Bansal debated on the use of pellet guns during the recent protests.
‘July 20 incident extremely disturbing and depressing’
When asked why he approached the on the use of these guns, Azad said, “July 20, 2026 incident had been extremely disturbing and depressing. The violence that was unleashed from both sides was unfortunate. Inevitably, it happened in all the protests. First, the criminal elements get in. The police are stoned. They also reacted unprofessionally. The worst thing is that the main issue is forgotten, which is the NEET reforms. The whole debate turns to police brutality. The question is that those who were seen on CCTVs destroying public property must be brought to book. But at the same time, the unprofessional acts of police should also be judged”.
He added, “As far as the use of pellet guns is concerned, I am convinced after seeing the damage and injuries. After seeing the history even in J&K, nearly 6,500 people were injured. Some of them had even lost eyes. The question is, even though pellet guns have not been banned. After J&K, there was an expert committee in 2016. which laid down and gave its recommendations. Pellet guns are to be used as a second-to-last resort.”
“The question is, when you have a series of other weapons like water canon, lathi charge, tear gas, chili spray, etc, why do you use pellet guns? I am against it for one reason. The reason is disproportionate damage it inflicts on the body and mind is much more than the success you are looking at. There is no need for pellet guns in a democracy. When you fire a pellet gun, it goes into an arc. It doesn’t hit at pin pointed target, but its metallic shells fly off. It’s like a cloud of metal bursts. So it can never be accurate,” he said further.
It’s about launching pellet gun on violent mob: Major Bansal
Sharing his views, Major Amit Bansal added, “The police is not using pellet guns. There is a specialised force which is trained to control the riots. The Rapid Action Force (RAF). It is not about launching pellet guns on a protest. It is about launching pellet gun on a violent mob which has gone out of control in attacking the police and destroying properties. We must remember one of the cases where the mob lynched an SHO of Kishanganj. We must also remember the recent 2020 Delhi riots. Constable Ratan Lal was lynched alive by the mob. How do you stop these kinds of violent attacks?”
Pointing out that the issue is proportionate use of force, Chakma added, “The question is which weapons, lethal or non-lethal, you use. We know one particular fact. That is there is nobody from the Home Minister, DCP, or sub-inspector who maintains the GD Entry. The use of pellet guns in this particular case is disproportionate.”