Pellet Guns and Shock Batons in Crowd Control

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Pellet guns have come back into public discussion after reports alleged their use during a student protest in **July 2026** in **Delhi**. The protest was organized by the **Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)**.

Worldwide, security forces classify pellet guns as **non-lethal crowd-control methods**, similar to tear gas and water cannons. These guns fire cartridges that contain hundreds of small **lead pellets**.
Although officers use them to stop dangerous crowds without killing, they can cause severe injuries or permanent blindness if fired from close range into soft body tissues or eyes.

India produces the ammunition for these weapons at the **Ordnance Factory, Ishapore**. The official guidelines instruct security officers to use minimum force and aim strictly **below the waist**.

The government first used pellet guns during the **2010 Kashmir summer unrest**. They faced severe global criticism during the **2016 Kashmir unrest**, when their use by the **CRPF** caused widespread eye injuries and blindness.
Following this criticism, authorities introduced alternative **plastic bullets** in **2017**. These new rounds underwent testing at the **Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL)** in **Chandigarh**.

A shock baton is a small electroshock device that security forces hold in their hands for self-defence and crowd control. It sends out a **high-voltage, low-current electric shock** that causes temporary pain and muscle stiffness without causing permanent harm.
In India, members of the **Rapid Action Force (RAF)** carry shock batons as standard equipment to manage difficult crowds.
In **2021**, the **Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)** and the **Border Security Force (BSF)** set clear technical guidelines for shock batons. These rules specify a maximum weight of **1 kg**, a length between **450-700 mm**, an operating temperature range from **-20°C to +50°C**, a service life of **five years**, and a battery that provides at least **1,000 quarter-second shock bursts** per charge.
Manufacturers build these batons using materials that resist hard impacts and water damage, making them durable for field operations.