Centre asks Tear Smoke Unit to modify casing of tear gas shells

The Centre has asked the Tear Smoke Unit and Bureau of Police Research and Development to look into the possibility of modifying casing of tear gas shells from aluminium to plastic.

This was done at the request of Jammu and Kashmir government which pointed out that the tear gas shells used by police and para-military forces had aluminium casing which proved to be lethal in certain cases.

The government listed out the death of Tufail Mattoo, a student who died within minutes after a tear gas shell burst on his head.

The state government sought changing of the aluminium casing to plastic as this would not result in death in case it hits any human.

The Tear Smoke Unit, which comes under the Border Security Forces, based in Tekanpur in Madhya Pradesh also attempted to work out on a possibility that the shell burns in air once it gains enough friction from the air particles.

However, the experiment did not succeed and had to be given
midway.

The TSU, which has been established in 1976, is the only unit producing Tear Smoke and non lethal munitions in the country.

The Research and Development department has been relentlessly working to develop new improved munitions and
chemicals to suit the ever changing needs of security forces.
The TSU has sophisticated pyrotechnic lab and state-of-the-art
static test.

The TSU has also been asked to increase the smoke quantity in the shell and make it more vigorous.