Members of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHCBA) Tuesday staged protest against the use of pellet guns on protesters and civilian killings in Kashmir.The association comprising of lawyers raised slogans and were holding banners displaying slogans like ‘Go India Go Back, Stop use of Pellet Guns, Pellet Guns are killer guns stop them and Don’t blind innocents’.The protesters led by association’s president, Mian Abdul Qayoom assembled in lawn of High Court and marched towards the main road.While addressing rally, Qayoom condemned the civilian killings in Kashmir and use of pellet guns. “Government should immediately order ban on use of pellet guns in Kashmir,” he said.He said that despite a number of youth lost their eyesight due to the pellet guns, it is unfortunate that the government is yet to order ban on its use, adding that the killings of civilians should be stopped at earliest.
Pertinently, Bar Association has moved a PIL before the High Court praying therein that the use of pellet guns be totally banned as a means of crowd control, report said.The lawyers' body have also demanded that the officers, who took the decision of using the pellet guns after July 8, be prosecuted and punished.Notably, hundreds of youth have received pellet injuries during the current protests that started after the killing of Hizb commander, Burhan Wani on July 8.Doctors in the Valley hospitals have also termed the pellet guns as ‘dangerous weapon’ and demanded ban on its use. (KNS)