Srinagar: The government appointed State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed police in Indian administered Kashmir to refrain from using pepper gas to quell protests in the region.
The SHRC judgment came in response to the application filed by human rights activist seeking complete ban on use of pepper gas during protests citing health hazard.
The SHRC judgement, which was announced on Thursday (December 8 ) asked the authorities to refrain from using excessive pepper gas on human beings. “Other methods available with the law enforcement agencies to maintain peace should be explored . For restoration of peace, maximum restraint in use of force is needed,” it said
It said the sentiments of the boys should be borne in mind while dealing with the protests and protestors.
The judgement further directed police to translate social and political policy into law and confer legal rights to the beneficiaries.
It further reads, “Senior doctors have opined that pepper gas can cause weakness in eye sight particularly among infants and minors, dysentery, severe chest infection that in turn can lead to Tuberculosis and Asthma”.
After last year’s unrest during which over 112 persons, mostly youth, died in police and paramilitary forces firing in the region, the authorities provided non-lethal weapons including pepper gas to police to deal with the protestors to minimize the casualties. Now police have been using pepper gas to quell the demonstrations in Kashmir. However, according to media reports, pepper gas has led to serious health related problems as many elders, infants and minors have developed irritation in eyes and breathing problems etc. It has evoked calls for ban on use of pepper gas by police in Kashmir.
