IN VALLEY, POLICE USES SHELLS MADE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS

ARIF SHAFI WANI: Greater Kashmir Daily

The shell is capable of penetrating one-inch thick wooden barricade
Srinagar, Aug 8: In a shocking revelation, it was found today that police has been using a sophisticated and dangerous weapon to quell peaceful protests in the Valley for past many days. It is Rudra: a tear gas shell exclusively manufactured and permitted for use in only in military operations.
According to police sources, Rudra- which is also called wood piercing shell- has been manufactured by the Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force for use in “anti-terrorist operations.”
They said Rudra has been extensively used in the encounters to neutralize holed-up militants in buildings or houses across the Valley. It is fired from a special gun and is capable of penetrating a wooden barricade of one inch thickness from a range of 60-70 meters and emits powerful tear gas for 20 to 40 seconds.
Greater Kashmir is in possession of a Rudra shell which was reportedly fired on protestors at Nowhatta yesterday. It is clearly written on the shell that “under no circumstances, Rudra should be fired in the crowd.”
On some defense websites, it is warned that the use of Rudra can cause serious injuries, including death, and the shell should be fired by trained persons only. Reports said that the police has been firing Rudra shells to disperse protesters in various parts of Shehr-e-Khas during past one month.
“A cop placed a different looking gun on his shoulder and directly fired some shells towards the protesters. Many of them had a narrow escape as the shells hit the road. We were surprised to see the shells with sharp fins. The shells have expired in 2004. The police seems to be bent upon to kill us,” said some residents of Nowhatta.
However, Riyaz Ahmad of Nowhatta said police has been occasionally using Rudra in the locality for past year. “Last year, a youth was critically injured when a Rudra shell stuck into his leg. He has been operated upon twice and is still undergoing treatment. Besides, one arm of a child had to be amputated when a Rudra shell hit him. It is better for police to fire bullets than Rudra as it makes victims die a slow death,” he said.
In Shehr-e-Khas, the people have nicknamed the Rudra as ‘fan’. “It flies and makes sound like an aeroplane,” they said. A doctor at SMHS hospital said there have been many injuries and deaths due to tear gas shells in the Valley in past some years.
“Many patients, whose body parts and organs had to be removed, told us that they were hit by missile like shells. The velocity of the missile shells is such that they not only pierce through body parts but damage tissues and veins. It seems they have been hit by Rudra,” he said.
The senior superintendent of police, Srinagar, Syed Afadul Mujtaba, told Greater Kashmir, “If our cops are using wood-piercing shells we will definitely investigate who allowed them to fire the shells.”

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=9_8_2008&ItemID=41&cat=1