Ex-IPS officer, two victims move SC for decommissioning of pellet guns, seek compensation for injured

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court of India by a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and two individuals who identify as victims of pellet gun injuries. The legal challenge seeks the decommissioning of pellet guns as a crowd-control measure, arguing that the weapon is inherently dangerous and unsuitable for use against civilian assemblies.

According to the petition, the primary concern lies in the unpredictable and sporadic trajectory of pellets once discharged. The petitioners contend that because the weapon cannot be aimed with precision, its use results in indiscriminate harm, rendering it an arbitrary and unreasonable tool for law enforcement agencies tasked with dispersing crowds. The plea requests that the court intervene to mandate a transition to non-lethal alternatives that do not pose the same risk of permanent injury or death.

In addition to the call for a total ban on the deployment of pellet guns, the petitioners have sought judicial intervention to ensure compensation for those who have sustained injuries from such weapons in the past. The case highlights ongoing debates regarding the proportionality of force used by security personnel during civil unrest. The Supreme Court is expected to review the petition to determine whether the current protocols for crowd control meet constitutional standards regarding the protection of life and the use of force.