Home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday cleared the use of PAVA chilli grenades as a possible alternative to pellet guns. The guns will remain in use only in the “rarest of rare cases”. The clearance was given a day before an all-party delegation is scheduled to visit the Valley.

The first consignment of 1,000 PAVA shells is expected to be delivered to the security forces by Sunday. The use of chilli shells was recommended by an expert committee, which was formed in the wake of criticism of the pellet guns that blinded several protesters.