Kashmir unrest: Troopers answer stone-throwers with slingshots

Security forces have realised the futility of using guns and smoke-shells on Kashmir’s stone-pelters. So, they have switched to slingshots to counter the mischief-makers.

The CRPF troops, who’ve got orders to maintain restraint, are using slings to shoot marbles at stone-pelters. For the troops, the new weapon serves three purposes — It falls under the non-lethal category, since it is fired from a distance, it helps troops avoid close contact with the crowd and third the marble hits the target precisely and invariably injures the protester.

The ammunition used in slings is marbles, such as the ones used by children to play kancha. A slingshot is so powerful that it can very well smash the windscreen of a vehicle. Marbles are a terrific weapon as they can damage the eye and cause swelling anywhere on the body. “A slingshot hit my mother a few days back and she had a swollen arm,” said Ajaz Ahmad, a resident of old city.

Officially, the CRPF is not acknowledging that the slingshot has become a very effective tactical weapon, however, troopers on the ground are using the slings and marbles at will to stop the stone-pelting mobs. “It is not a part of the training. However the troopers might adopt this modus-operandi according to their needs,” an officer said.

More than 107 people have died and more than 504 have been injured in violence since June 11, when the unrest started.

According to data, around 1,351 CRPF men and 2,660 police personnel were injured in these clashes.