This Is How Use Of Deflectors On Pellet Guns Make Them ‘less Lethal’ In J&K theprint.in

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik has been claiming a dip in pellet injuries and no loss of life in clashes reported from the Valley since 5 August, when the Modi government imposed a lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a report in The Hindu, at least 36 people have been injured by pellets in the Kashmir Valley since 5 August, none of whom have been blinded. The report goes on to add that barring four, all the others have pellet injuries below the waist. Officials in the CRPF say that it is due to a deflector placed on the pump-action gun (PAG) that diverts a maximum number of pellets to the lower half of the body, making it less lethal. Another reason is a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for the force with clear instructions to “show restraint” and “fire only as a last resort”, the CRPF says.