Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today said wanton use of pellet guns on young protesters was “unacceptable” and suggested that the CRPF should opt for alternatives like using rubber bullets to minimise serious injuries.
He was reacting to CRPF DGP Durga Prasad’s remark that pellet guns will continue to be used against stone-pelting mobs in Kashmir.
Amarinder was talking to reporters after the induction of Punjab University Students’ Council general secretary Rishi Bhardwaj and Vinod Dahiya and Rohit Saini of the National Students Organisation into his party.
Observing that the use of pellet guns was turning out to be “lethal”, he said, “We cannot go on blinding our boys even if they are instigated to provoke,” adding that instances of young boys taking part in protests and pelting stones at security forces are many in the world, including in Palestine, but they are not fired at from pellet guns.
Amarinder suggested the CRPF tried alternative ways such as using rubber bullets. “The purpose should be deterring not punitive to the extent that protesting boys are blinded for life,” he said.
Earlier, welcoming the student leaders into the party, he said he looked forward to the young generation for its support to usher in change and progress in Punjab.
Sourced from PTI, Featured image courtey: www.todayonline.com
