Chilli-filled ‘PAVA shells’ seen as alternative to pellet guns

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) An expert committee constitutedby the Union Home Ministry to find alternatives to pellet gunsfor use in Kashmir has zeroed in potent and newly developed’PAVA shells’, a chilli-based less-lethal munition whichtemporarily incapacitates the target and renders them immobilefor several minutes. The committee early this week held a full-fledgeddemonstration of the maiden shells at a test field in thenational capital and gave its thumbs up for use by securityforces in crowd control and protest-like situations in theKashmir valley in place of the pellet guns which has led towide-scale criticism as their usage led to cases of severeblindness and injuries to people. The ‘PAVA shells’, as per a blueprint prepared in thisregard and accessed by PTI, were under testing for over anyear at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Councilof Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory inLucknow and its full development has come right on time whenit was most needed. Sources privy to the working of the committee said thepanel has favoured ‘PAVA shells’ as an alternative to pelletguns and has recommended that the Tear Smoke Unit (TSU) of theBSF in Gwalior should be tasked with the bulk production ofthe shells "immediately", with the first lot not of less than50,000 rounds. The name ‘PAVA’ stands for Pelargonic Acid VanillylAmide, also called Nonivamide, and is a organic compound foundcharacteristically in natural chilli pepper. On the Scoville scale (the degree to measure the power ofchilli), PAVA is categorised as "above peak" meaning it willseverely irritate and paralyse humans, but in a temporaryfashion. It is also used as a food additive to add pungency,flavouring and spicy effect to food. The committee, the blueprint said, found that ‘PAVA’ canbe categorised in the less-lethal munition category and oncefired, the shells burst out to temporarily stun, immobiliseand paralyse the target (protestors) in a more effective waythan a tear gas shell or pepper sprays. The panel noted, sources said, that PAVA is "biosafe,better than chilli grenade or tear smoke shell and can also beused in combination with stun and tear shells" by securityforces facing unruly protestors in place of pellet guns. The committee also analysed and is understood to haverecommended the supply of few other non-lethal/less-lethalmunition to security forces personnel deployed for crowdcontrol and counter-protests in the Kashmir valley and othersimilar situations elsewhere. PTI NESRG