What Is a Pellet Gun? Rules, Uses, Legal Ownership in India and How Dangerous It Can Be

The recent Sansad Chalo protest organized by the CJP has brought renewed attention to the use of pellet guns as a crowd-control measure in India. According to NewsX, the deployment of these weapons during the demonstrations has sparked a significant debate regarding the ethics and safety protocols governing their use by security forces. While pellet guns are often categorized as non-lethal, their potential for causing severe injury has led to calls for stricter regulation and oversight.

In India, the ownership and use of pellet guns are governed by specific legal frameworks, though their application in public order situations remains a contentious issue. Pellet guns typically fire multiple small metal projectiles, which are designed to disperse crowds by causing pain rather than fatal trauma. However, critics and human rights advocates have frequently argued that these weapons can cause permanent disability, particularly when they strike sensitive areas such as the eyes or face.

As the CJP protest continues to draw national attention, the discourse surrounding these devices highlights a broader tension between the state's need to maintain public order and the rights of citizens to engage in peaceful assembly. The current debate is expected to influence future discussions on police reform and the types of equipment deemed acceptable for managing civil unrest. Authorities have yet to release a formal statement regarding changes to current crowd-control policies in response to the latest protests.