Union Government Approves Use of Chilli-based PAVA Shells as Alternative to Pellet Guns

Union Government on 3 September 2016 approved the use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) as an alternative to pellet guns for crowd control. 
•    Pellet guns will be used in the rarest of rare cases.
•    Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) also called Nonivamide is chilli-based ammunition that is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily. 
•    The shells actually contain an organic compound found in natural chilli.
•    The PAVA shells were under trial for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratory in Lucknow.
•    Earlier in July 2016, the Home Ministry constituted a seven-member Expert committee headed by TVSN Prasad for exploring the other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons. 
•    The Committee submitted its report to the Ministry recommending use of PAVA shells as an alternative. 
•    The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of a Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani on 8 July 2016.