Firing

Jul 2016

In power

BJP — Centre

Acted

Centre

Security forces used 12-bore pellet guns, tear gas and live ammunition against protesters. Counts of deaths and injuries differ by source and date (see figures). On 9 July the J&K Police (ADGP, CID, S. M. Sahai) said seven of that day's deaths were caused by retaliatory action by security forces after mobs attacked police posts, a police station and police and CRPF camps. In the Lok Sabha on 21 July, Rajnath Singh said security forces had shown maximum restraint, that someone might have made a mistake somewhere, and that pellet guns had caused one death and about 53 eye injuries. The J&K High Court Bar Association, in a petition filed in July 2016, alleged excessive force and said people watching clashes, including teenagers, had been hit in the eyes, skull and throat. In its order of 21 September 2016 the High Court said that security personnel, their camps and police stations were targeted by unruly crowds almost every day, and that many persons were injured by pellet guns. Before the Supreme Court on 10 April 2017, the Attorney General said the forces used staggered force, with pellet guns and then live ammunition used only when a mob came close. [6][7][4][5][8][2][1][3][9][10]

• 33 civilians killed, said Union Home Minister (Rajya Sabha) [5]
• 1,948 civilians injured, said Union Home Minister (Rajya Sabha) [5]
• 1,671 security force personnel injured, said Union Home Minister (Rajya Sabha) [5]
• 38 civilians killed, said Union Home Minister (Lok Sabha) [4]
• 2,180 civilians injured, said Union Home Minister (Lok Sabha) [4]
• 1,739 security force personnel injured, said Union Home Minister (Lok Sabha) [4]
• 1 deaths caused by pellet guns, said Union Home Minister (Lok Sabha) [4]
• about 53 people with pellet injuries to the eyes, said Union Home Minister (Lok Sabha) [4]
• 2 deaths caused by pellet guns, said Kashmir Life [2]
• at least 35 youths who lost eyesight to pellets, said Kashmir Life [2]
• 11 killed on 9 July, said The Indian Express [8]
• 7 deaths on 9 July caused by retaliatory action of security forces, said J&K Police (ADGP S. M. Sahai) [8]
• 31 killed by 11 July, said Global Voices [3]
• about 444 injured by 11 July, said Global Voices [3]
• at least 45 civilians killed by 21 July, said Reporters Without Borders [1]
• more than 1,600 injured by 21 July, said Reporters Without Borders [1]
• 47 killed by 26 July, said PTI [9]
• 5,500 injured by 26 July, said PTI [9]
• 73 death toll by 2 September, said The Hindu [10]
• about 4,000 injured, said J&K High Court Bar Association (petitioner) [6]
• about 100 blinded, said J&K High Court Bar Association (petitioner) [6]
• 510 pellet-injured patients referred to hospitals outside the state, said Director [6]
• 54 persons paid ex gratia for permanent disablement (Rs 0.75 lakh each), said J&K Home Department (affidavit) [6]
• 10 persons paid ex gratia for partial disablement (Rs 0.50 lakh each), said J&K Home Department (affidavit) [6]

Court: On 21 September 2016 the J&K High Court declined to prohibit pellet guns in rare and extreme situations until the expert committee reported and the government decided, and said whether force was excessive in a given incident needed a factual finding by a competent authority. [6]

Court: On 11 March 2020 the High Court dismissed the petition, holding that the state had met its obligation by ex gratia payments to most of the injured, and that individuals could sue for further compensation. [6]

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