The Centre has approved the use of chilli-filled grenades as an<br/>alternative to pellet guns for crowd controlling ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. <br/><br/>Official sources said, Home Minister Rajnath Singh cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) shells also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns. <br/><br/>PAVA shells, a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.<br/><br/>Sources said, pellet guns are, however, unlikely to be banned completely but will be used in rarest of rare cases. <br/><br/>Home Ministry had set up a seven-member Expert Committee for exploring the other possible alternatives to Pellet Guns as Non-lethal Weapons. <br/><br/>The Committee submitted its report to the Ministry recommending use of PAVA shells as an alternative.<br/><br/>The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of a militant.

The Centre has approved the use of chilli-filled grenades as an<br/>alternative to pellet guns for crowd controlling ahead of the visit of an all-party delegation to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. <br/><br/>Official sources said, Home Minister Rajnath Singh cleared the file for use of Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide (PAVA) shells also called Nonivamide as an alternative to the pellet guns. <br/><br/>PAVA shells, a chilli-based ammunition, is less lethal and immobilises the target temporarily.<br/><br/>Sources said, pellet guns are, however, unlikely to be banned completely but will be used in rarest of rare cases. <br/><br/>Home Ministry had set up a seven-member Expert Committee for exploring the other possible alternatives to Pellet Guns as Non-lethal Weapons. <br/><br/>The Committee submitted its report to the Ministry recommending use of PAVA shells as an alternative.<br/><br/>The Kashmir Valley is witnessing unrest following the killing of a militant.