The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: Haryana Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur has denied that the use of pellet guns against farmers who are trying to make their way to Delhi, and have been stopped at at least two locations – Khanauri and Shambhu Border. Kapur said that the police are using “minimum force”, The Hindu reported.
Reports has shown that multiple farmers have been admitted to hospital because of injuries they faced during police action. Farmers have told The Wire that the injuries were caused by pellet guns and tear gas shells.
When asked about the use of pellet guns against protesters, Kapur said, “No, the SOP being followed by the police is to first use tear gas, then water cannons, cane charge and lastly rubber bullets are fired from a distance of 50-60 yards. The rubber bullets are not aimed directly at the mob, they are pointed to the ground which ricochet and then hit the target. We do not want to injure the people.”
To a follow-up question on photos and videos of metal shrapnel in farmers’ bodies, he said, “I have not come across photographs or reports in newspapers of pellet gun injuries. Our response is limited to rubber bullets. This is a different kind of atmosphere. They are hurling anti-India slogans. There are many disturbing images and videos. They [the protesters] are taking extreme provocative actions.”
Protesting farmers launched a ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation to hold the Narendra Modi government accountable for unfulfilled promises, including a law to guarantee minimum support prices. They have been stopped before making it even near Delhi’s borders.