Andhra police to induct non-lethal weapons

HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh Police is in the process of inducting non-lethal weapons to use them in riot situations, officials said Monday.

Director General of Police Aravinda Rao said attempts were being made to induct non-lethal weapons like 12 bore pump action guns to be used in riot situations. “These weapons will effectively stop the crowds and may cause injuries but will not be fatal,” the police chief said in a statement.

During the recent conference of director generals of police, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had directed the police chiefs to induct non-lethal weapons for riot control.

“At present the police forces are deploying rifles during law and order situations and in spite of best efforts by police to use restraint, they are compelled to open fire in certain situations causing death to people,” the statement said.

For a long time, police forces have been adopting a policy of shoot to kill but in the recent years, the forces are trying not to open fire on crowds. This is proving to make an impracticable situation because crowds usually turn violent and force the police to open fire in self-defence, the police chief added.