Is Use Of Rubber Bullets Justified?

Abstract

Background: The study has been conducted with the aim to assess the severity of trauma in patients injured with rubber bullets.Methods : This prospective study included 64 consecutive patients of rubber bullet injury who reported to the surgical department of this hospital over a period of three years. After detailed history and clinical examination, hemodynamically stable patients were subjected to investigations and unstable ones were operated. Data collected was tabulated and subjected to appropriate statistical analysis.Results: Urban male teenagers were the most common individuals injured by rubber bullets during the riots or protests in the Indian Administered Kashmir valley. The limbs were the most common and less severely injured sites (38 patients; 59.375%), while the head and neck region was least commonly and most severely injured (4 cases; 6.25%). The mortality observed was 1.563%, which was due to carotid artery injury. The colon and the small gut were the most common hollow viscera injured with 8 cases (12.5%) each and the kidneys and the liver were the most commonly injured solid viscera with 6 cases (9.375%) each.Conclusion: The use of rubber bullets is unjustified for controlling mobs or protestors and law enforcement authorities should use other less lethal means.