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Day 59: Indian forces plan to use chilli-based shells to suppress Kashmir unrest

Dawood Rehman 07:32 PM | 5 Sep, 2016
Day 59: Indian forces plan to use chilli-based shells to suppress Kashmir unrest
SRINAGAR - Indian occupation forces will use chilli-based shells instead of pellet guns to quell protests in Held Kashmir, a senior minister said Monday, after hundreds of civilians sustained serious eye injuries in several weeks of unrest.

Hundreds of people including women were injured in the day, after Indian forces randomly fired pellets on pro-freedom rallies and protest demonstrations in the Kashmir Valley.

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During the past 59 days, the number of injured by the brute force used by Indian troops has risen to ten thousands. Some 90 people have been martyred during the period.

The government has been coming under growing pressure over the level of casualties in Kashmir during protests against Indian rule since the death of a popular rebel leader Burhan Wani on July 8 in a gunbattle with soldiers.

More than 70 civilians have been killed and thousands injured in the worst violence to hit the Muslim-majority territory since 2010, with many sustaining injuries from metal pellets fired from pump-action shotguns.

Defiance against aggression

Kashmiris in large number Monday took to the streets in Srinagar, Bandipora, Baramulla, Gandarbal, Pulwama, Shopian, Islamabad, Kupwara, Badgam and Kulgam districts to convey to the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation that Kashmiris were not ready to accept any solution to the Kashmir dispute within the framework of Indian constitution.

The delegation was led by Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Besides the Hurriyet leadership, the Panun Kashmir, an organisation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, also refused to meet the visiting delegation, Kashmir Media Service reported.

Speaking on his visit, Rajnath Singh said an expert panel had recommended the use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillylamide (PAVA) shells as an alternative to the mainly lead-based pellets.

Chili-based pallets

"The expert panel suggested the use of PAVA shells and I understand that no one can die from it," Singh told reporters as fresh violence erupted in parts of the territory.

"Since yesterday, 1,000 shells have already reached Kashmir," he added.

PAVA, also called Nonivamide, is present in chillis and is commonly used to make pepper spray.

The pellet guns are meant to minimise fatalities in protests although the law gives the armed forces a relatively free hand to use lethal force, especially against suspected militants.

But although they rarely result in deaths, the birdshot from the pellets can often blind victims if the fragments hit them in the eye.

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Hospitals say they have treated around 600 patients with eye injuries in the last two months, many of whom will never recover full vision.

Authorities lifted a curfew in most parts of the territory late last month, but schools, shops and many banks remain closed while residents struggle with a communications blackout.

Meanwhile, the troops barged into the houses in many areas of the occupied territory, vandalized the property and thrashed the inmates. They even broke into the Srinagar Municipal Corporation building at Rawatpora Baghat, and ransacked official documents, damaged furniture, electronic appliances, doors and windows.

A woman fell fainted after troops attacked a rally at Bagh-e-Mehtab in Srinagar.

Police surrounded the residence of senior APHC leader, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi Al-Safvi to prevent him from leading a pro-freedom rally in Khanpora area of Badgam.

On the other hand, in the backdrop of United Nations Secretary-General urging the Sri Lanka government to redress alleged wrongs of war, the Sikh organization Dal Khalsa today asked Ban Ki-Moon why the world body had chosen to remain silent on India’s wrongdoings on Kashmiris, Sikhs and other minorities.

Ban Ki-moon is on his three-day visit to Sri Lanka. Dal Khalsa’s spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh in a statement said that India was suppressing aspirations of Kashmiris and Sikhs, refusing to recognize their right to self-determination and committing grave human rights abuses.

A protest demonstration was held outside UN headquarters in New York to condemn the ongoing barbarism unleashed by Indian forces in Kashmir.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two gained independence from British rule in 1947. Both claim the territory in full.

Several rebel groups have for decades fought Indian soldiers - currently numbering around 500,000 - deployed in the territory. They demand independence for the region or its merger with Muslim majority Pakistan.

Dawood Rehman
Dawood Rehman

The writer is a member of the staff.

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Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal rates on March 31, 2023

KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 31, 2023 (Friday).

Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 283.8 286.6
Euro EUR 306 309
UK Pound Sterling GBP 347.5 351
U.A.E Dirham AED 77.2 79.9
Saudi Riyal SAR 75.6 76.4
Australian Dollar AUD 187.5 189.9
Bahrain Dinar BHD 753.99 761.99
Canadian Dollar CAD 206.5 208.7
China Yuan CNY 41.25 41.65
Danish Krone DKK 41.26 41.51
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.11 36.46
Indian Rupee INR 3.45 3.56
Japanese Yen JPY 2.15 2.22
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 925.67 934.67
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 62.85 63.45
New Zealand Dollar NZD 175.57 177.58
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.33 26.63
Omani Riyal OMR 736.34 744.35
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.92 78.62
Singapore Dollar SGD 209.5 211.5
Swedish Korona SEK 26.5 26.8
Swiss Franc CHF 308.25 310.75
Thai Bhat THB 8.28 8.43

Today's gold rates in Pakistan – 31 March 2023

KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 208,200 on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs178,500.   

Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,849.

Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Karachi PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Islamabad PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Peshawar PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Quetta PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Sialkot PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Attock PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Gujranwala PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Jehlum PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Multan PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Bahawalpur PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Gujrat PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Nawabshah PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Chakwal PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Hyderabad PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Nowshehra PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Sargodha PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470
Faisalabad PKR 208,200 PKR 2,470

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