Mob control turns ugly as CAPF uses 'pellet guns'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 30 2023: At a time when the government of India is mulling to replace pellet guns after their non lethal tags have been questioned, the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) deployed in the state to control the on going public protests used the weapons, inflicting serious injuries to at least 10 students, including minor in unifqrm.

This is the first time in the country that pellet guns are used for crowd control on protesting students in uniform, drawing mass condemnation.

The injured are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Imphal, drawing a grim reminder of the security forces using the weapons to quell protests in Jammu and Kashmir, killing and maiming many children.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, taking serious note of using pellet guns on protestors in J&K, had asked New Delhi to end the use of the weapon.

In the UN Report on Children 2021, he called upon the Indian government to take "preventive measures to protect children, including ending the use of pellets against children..." .

During the intense student protests in the streets of Imphal city on Tuesday and�Wednesday, the security personnel, particularly the Rapid Action Force (RAF) troopers, fired pellet guns at close range towards protestors, inflicting deep pellet injuries to over 10 students.

The uprising erupted after photos of the bodies of two teen students, who went missing on July 6, went viral on the social media.

Several students, including minors received multiple pellet wounds on the shoulders, heads, eyes and limbs.

17-year-old Loitongbam Kishan, is one of the student protesters whose right shoulder has been shattered by pellets fired from close range.

According to plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Indranil Dutta, Kishan was brought to Shija Hospitals bleeding profusely and in serious pain.

Upon examination, an emergency surgical operation was performed on Wednesday to remove the pellets, as well as to control the bleeding and repair the structure.

"On examination, he had some sort of shoulder dysfunction.

On the OT table, we found many muscles which contribute to shoulder function severely dam aged.

There were approximately 90 pellets.

Because these are very small pellets of about 1mm, some are less than 1mm, some were 2mm pellets, it is not possible to remove everything because that may damage the function of the shoulder," the surgeon said.

"In order to preserve the function of the shoulder I've removed around 60 pellets.

Rest of the pellets we can take care of later.

Right now, bleeding is controlled, the patient is recovering but shoulder function may take 3-6 months' time to regain," the doctor added.

The surgeon further said the patient is stable but lost lot of blood and may require blood transfusion.

Narrating the excesses of the security forces leading to his grievous injuries.

Kishan said "they started dispersing us using tear gas.

I was hiding behind a house.

After a while as the commotion subsided, I came out of the hiding.

Just then an RAF trooper came charging in and we were face to face.

He then put his gun on my shoulder and.

pulled the trigger" .

Another 20-year-old student protestor, Uttam Soibam who sustained multiple pellet wounds on his head was operated on Friday, at Raj Medicity, North AOC.

Surgeons successfully removed over 61 pellets from him and declared him out of danger.

However, he would need several surgeries to remove the entire pellets stuck on his skull, the doctors said.

Another 24-year-old protestor, Johnson Mayanglambam from Top Khongnangkhong, Imphal East who was shot in the face by a 12-bore pump action pellet shotgun at close range was rushed to hospital with a damaged right eye, smashed jaw, zyjoma and nasal bone fracture and skull.

Although lumber drain insertion was performed on Wednesday for fluid extraction, the surgery to remove the pellets in the face and particularly from his right and left eyes has not been performed as the team of doctors including ENT and neurosurgeon are yet to give the clearance for the operation fearing more damage to his right eyes.

According to hospital sources, the much-needed surgery may be performed on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) opined that the strategy and approach for controlling "young students and children protestors must be different from adult protestors" .

A general appeal made by the commission said: "If required, the security forces should use other less injurious means such as repeated convincing warning through loudspeakers, ensuring adequate barricades, water cannon may be an option as last resort, while encountering young children".

"Excessive and disproportionate use of force on children and young students is unbecoming in a democratic country like India, a country which ratified the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and where Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 is in force," it said. (Courtesy: Waari Singbul Network) .

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