Medical Risks and Regulatory Gaps in Indian Police Use of Non-Lethal Weaponry
Civilian protesters in New Delhi face severe health complications following the deployment of chemical irritants and kinetic projectiles. Recent incidents highlight a lack of transparency regarding law enforcement tactics and the medical consequences of so-called less-lethal devices.
Key takeaways
- Security forces in Delhi are facing allegations of using shock batons and nail-studded lathis against CJP protesters.
- Medical research indicates that chemical irritants used for crowd control are linked to chronic respiratory issues and potential heart complications.
- India lacks specific regulations on the composition and deployment criteria for many less-lethal weapons, leading to fatal outcomes.
- International standards prohibit striking the head, neck, or vital organs with kinetic weapons, yet these guidelines are frequently bypassed.
The Human Toll of Crowd Control
During a July 20 demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi, a 23-year-old protester identified as Arhaan experienced temporary unconsciousness and persistent auditory trauma after a canister detonated near his head. He was caught between police cordons and barricades as security forces moved to disperse the crowd. The encounter left him with chronic ear pain, illustrating the immediate physical risks associated with modern crowd management tactics.
Reports from the Jantar Mantar protests indicate that security personnel utilized a range of equipment including tear gas, pellet guns, lathis, and shock batons. These actions resulted in multiple hospitalizations, including a 20-year-old woman who required ventilator support due to her injuries. While security agencies have refuted claims regarding specific devices, the absence of public transparency concerning these protocols remains a point of contention.
Key Facts
- Chemical agents like CS gas and PAVA (synthetic pepper spray) are classified as chemical weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention and banned in warfare, yet remain legal for domestic riot control in India.
- Systematic reviews published in BMJ Open and BMC Public Health show that 'less lethal' measures can cause injuries across every organ system, leading to lifelong disability or death.
- The Kerala Police Manual of 1970 mandates that lathis should only be used on soft tissue between the shoulders and thighs, explicitly prohibiting strikes to the head or neck.
- During the 2024 farmers' protests, 21-year-old Subhkaran Singh died from a head injury caused by a tear gas shell launched from a grenade launcher.
- Shock batons, which deliver electric currents upon contact, were reportedly used for the first time in the national capital during the July 20 CJP march.
Legal and Medical Discrepancies
Indian law stipulates that the intensity of crowd control must be proportional to the situation, escalating only if a gathering turns violent. However, critics point to a lack of specific regulations governing the composition of these devices and the qualifications of those authorized to deploy them. Dr. Madhavi Dandu of the University of California Global Health Institute notes that chemical irritants are linked to chronic respiratory diseases, PTSD, and persistent ophthalmic injuries. A 2025 study in Toxicology Reports further associated CS spray exposure with ECG abnormalities, suggesting significant cardiopulmonary risks.
Operational failures also contribute to the severity of injuries. Harjit Singh Bhatti of the Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum observed that poor training often leads to personnel striking vulnerable areas such as the spine, throat, and abdomen. At the CJP march, protesters alleged the use of nail-studded lathis, while at least five individuals sustained pellet gun injuries, including one person facing potential vision loss due to the inherent inaccuracy of kinetic impact projectiles.
Why It Matters
The transition from crowd management to medical crisis highlights a systemic failure to balance public order with human rights. When 'less lethal' tools are deployed in poorly ventilated spaces or against trapped crowds, they cease to be deterrents and instead become instruments of significant physiological harm. The use of grenade launchers capable of firing 20 canisters per minute further complicates the claim of proportional response, turning urban protest zones into sites of high-velocity trauma.
Source: The Hindu — National
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