‘Limited Damage’: Upcoming Bollywood Film Angers Kashmir Pellet Gun Victims

The trailer for the upcoming Bollywood film Chauhaan has reignited controversy over India’s use of pellet guns against protesters in Kashmir. The film, starring Ajay Devgn as an Indian security official, features a mocking tone towards past governments for being too soft on protesters. The trailer depicts Kashmiri pellet victims as caricatures, downplaying the “limited damage” inflicted by these indiscriminate weapons.

Feroz Aslam, one of over 1,000 Kashmiris who have lost their vision due to pellet gun wounds, expressed his deep disappointment with the film’s portrayal. He cannot watch the trailer, but its impact is palpable – a reminder of the trauma that still lingers in Kashmir. “If the makers blindfolded their eyes for a day,” Aslam said, “they would know what it feels like not to be able to see.”

The use of pellet guns in Kashmir dates back to 2010, when they were introduced as a non-lethal alternative to bullets. However, over time, the narrative around their use has shifted from a humanitarian approach to a more pernicious attitude towards the Kashmiri people. The film’s trailer is a stark illustration of this shift.

Saiba Varma, a medical anthropologist at the University of California San Diego, argues that Chauhaan’s political messaging signals a growing disregard for morality in Indian public discourse. “The state no longer needs justifications” for its actions, she said. The film’s depictions of Kashmiri pellet victims reinforce popular tropes about the region – that its people are violent and require taming.

India’s use of pellet guns has attracted widespread condemnation from rights groups and even the United Nations. In 2021, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accused India of “grave violations” against children. Despite these criticisms, the Indian government continues to defend its use of pellet guns as a non-lethal alternative.

The Supreme Court of India cautioned against the indiscriminate use of pellet guns in 2016, but the government’s response was lukewarm. A decade later, the wounds inflicted by these weapons remain raw and unhealed. Chauhaan’s portrayal of Kashmiri pellet victims is a symptom of a larger problem – the Indian public discourse’s growing disregard for morality.

The film’s trailer suggests that the government continues to downplay the severity of its actions in the region, perpetuating a cycle of violence and reinforcing negative stereotypes about the Kashmiri people. As Aslam pointed out, “If they blindfolded their eyes for a day… they would know what it feels like not to be able to see.”

The impact of Chauhaan will likely be felt in Kashmir long after its release. The film’s trailer has sparked outrage among rights groups and victims’ families, who are still waiting for justice and compensation. As the Indian government prepares to showcase its “action entertainer” on the big screen, it would do well to remember the human cost of its actions in Kashmir.

The wounds inflicted by pellet guns will take time to heal – but Chauhaan’s portrayal is a stark reminder that the cycle of violence must be broken. It’s time for India to acknowledge the damage done and work towards a more just and equitable solution for Kashmir. The Indian public discourse needs to shift away from pernicious attitudes towards morality in Kashmir, and the film industry has a role to play – by portraying Kashmiri pellet victims with dignity and respect.