Ban use of pellet guns, electric shock batons by all police forces: disability rights outfits

Disability rights organisations, doctors’ groups, individuals, and concerned citizens have condemned the apparent use of pellet guns and electric shock weapons against protesters during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march in the national capital on July 20. The incident allegedly occurred in the youth-led protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over examination paper leaks.

The Progressive Medicos and Scientific Forum (PMSF) and groups under the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) umbrella have demanded immediate ban on the use of pellet guns, electric shock batons and all other weapons capable of causing permanent disability by all police and paramilitary forces. They have also sought an independent judicial inquiry into the matter.

Fix accountability

“The government should identify and prosecute all personnel responsible for the use of such weapons and fix accountability throughout the chain of command, including those who authorised their deployment,’’ the NPRD statement said.

Stating that several protesters sustained serious injuries, including Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, a 25-year-old who suffered multiple pellet injuries on his chest, neck and face and is undergoing treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, the group noted that doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi are battling to save the vision of 19-year-old Sahil Lochab who was hit by pellets while waving the national flag at Jantar Mantar. “Reports have also come alleging the use of electric shock batons during the crackdown,” said the group.

Can cause permanent disabilities

The group added that they view the use of these weapons with particular alarm because they are known to cause permanent disabilities.

“Pellet guns have caused irreversible eye injuries and blindness. Electric shock weapons can result in neurological and cardiac complications, severe psychological trauma, fractures and spinal injuries caused by falls, and other long-term impairments. Weapons whose foreseeable consequence is permanent disability have no place in the policing of civilian protests,’’ they said.

The group added that the use of force against persons with disabilities who were participating in the protest is deplorable.

“The State needs to be reminded that it has a heightened obligation to ensure the safety, dignity and equal protection of disabled persons under the law and not to subject them to violence while they exercise their constitutional right to peaceful protest,” it said, while demanding free medical treatment, rehabilitation, psychosocial support and adequate compensation to every person injured during the police action, particularly those who have suffered permanent or long-term disabilities.

Three confirmed cases: PMSF

Meanwhile, the PMSF noted that it has traced at least three confirmed cases of firearm use against protesters by security forces.

“These experiments of pellet gun and shock baton use by security forces against fellow citizens have reached the capital. All three victims have grievous injuries and two of them are now permanently disabled and disfigured due to eye and ear injuries,” PMSF said while also condemning the use of public-funded medical colleges as illegal detention centres.