Govt mulling reconfiguring PAVA shells as security forces find them ineffective

The self-melting canisters of the PAVA shells were taking time to melt and as a result, the crowds were able to throw them back at the forces in quick time. New Delhi: The Centre is mulling reconfiguration of ‘PAVA shells’, recently introduced in Kashmir for crowd control as an alternative to pellet guns, as these proved to be “less effective” due to a number of anomalies. The security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the CRPF, have provided an on-ground assessment, saying the ‘chilli-based’ PAVA shells were not able to “fully deter” the protesting crowds, official sources said. The panel had zeroed in on ‘PAVA shells’ which were considered “less lethal” and were capable of “immobilising the target temporarily”.