PROCEDURE FOR

DISPERSAL OF
UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY
PERSUATION

STAGES
OF
DISPER
SAL

DECLARATION / WARNING
AND GIVING ADEQUATE
TIME
PROCEDU
RE

TEAR GAS / WATER

CANNON
LATHI
RUBBER
FIRING

CHARGE
BULLETS

WITH LIVE
ROUNDS

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
1. WHEN MGT TAKES DECISION THAT U/A TO
BE DISPERSED BY FORCE,THE SENIOR
POLICE OFFICER PRESENT WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE TO DECIDE AS TO THE EXACT
AMOUNT OF FORCE TO BE USED.
2. USE OF FORCE SHOULD BE STRICKLY AS
PER PROVISION OF LAW.
3. THE MGT AND THE SENIOR POLICE OFFICER
WHEN BOTH ARE PRESENT SHOULD ACT
THROUGHOUT IN FULL CO-OPERATION.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
4. WHEN MGT IS PRESENT INVARIABLY
THE ORDER TO USE FORCE SHOULD
BE GIVEN BY THE MGT.
5. IF MGT IS NOT PRESENT, THE SENIOR
MOST POLICE OFFICER ON THE SPOT
SHOULD GIVE ORDER.
6. SEC 129 CrPc ORDER TO USE FORCE
FOR DISPERSAL OF U/A CAN BE GIVEN
BY THE OF O.C OF P.S OR ANY P.O NOT
BELOW THE RANK OF S.I OF POLICE.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
7.

ALL ATEMPTS MUST BE MADE TO

PERSUADE THE CROWD TO DISPERSE
VOLUNTARY BEFORE FORCE IS USED.
(THIS STEP OF PERSUATION SHOULD BE
RECORDED)
8. WHEN DECIDED FORCE MUST BE USED
WITH DETERMINATION.HESITANT USE
OF FORCE WOULD EXITE THE CROWD
AND MAKE THE SITUATION DIFFICULT
RESULTING IN MORE SERIOUS DAMAGE.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
9. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE FIRING WITH
LIVE CARTRIDGE OVER THE HEAD OF
THE CROWD OR TOWARDS THE FLANKS
AS
A WARNING BECAUSE OF THE
DANGER OF INNOCENT PERSONS.
10.THE USE OF FORCE MUST CEASE
IMMIDIATELY THE OBJECTIVE HAS BEEN
ATTAINED.
11. IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD
MORE FORCE THAN
IS ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY BE USED.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
12.THERE SHOULD BE NO INTENTION TO TAKE
REPRESSIVE ACTION TO TEACH THE CROWD
A LESSON.
13 AS SOON AS THE CROWD SHOWS THE
TENDENCY TO DISPERSE, FIRING MUST BE
STOPPED IMMIDIATELY.
14.POLICE MUST RENDER FIRST AID TO THE
INJURED AND TAKE POSSESION OF THE
DEAD IF ANY.
15. RESPONSIBILITY LIES ON THE POLICE TO
SEND THE INJURED IMMIDIATELY TO THE
HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.

GENERAL PRINCIPLE
16.POLICE MUST BE TRAINED TO FACE THE
TURBULENT CROWD AND MUST NOT LOOSE
NERVE EVEN WHEN INSULTED/ATTACKED OR
INJURED.
NOTE:*POLICE MUST BE FULLY EQUIPPED WITH
LAW
AND
ORDER
GEARS
BEFORE
DETAILMENT FOR LAW AND ORDER DUTY.
*DETAIL BRIEFING MUST BE MADE BY THE
SENIOR-MOST OFFICER PROCEEDING FOR
LAW AND ORDER AND THE BRIEFING GIVEN
ENTERED IN THE G.D. OF THE P.S.

DETAILS OF STAGES IN
DISPERSAL OF U/A
PERSUATION /WARNING1.As far as possible, all attempts to disperse
the crowd by persuasion and warning
should be made before force is used to
disperse.
2.The warning should be administered in a
clear and distinct manner that the crowd
has been declared as unlawful assembly.
3.Stipulated period (say 5 min-10 min) time
to be given failing which it should be made
clear that
force shall be used for the
dispersal of the U/A.

DETAILS OF STAGES
IN DISPERSAL OF U/S
4.Once the order has been made to
disperse or when the attitude of the
crowd is obviously threatening, the
senior most police officer on the spot
may proceed to disperse.
5. If Mgt is present with the Police, order
for dispersal i.e the use of force should
be given by the Mgt. The order should
be taken in the form signed by the
Mgt.

POINTS FOR
CONSIDERATION

The effectiveness of the force

depends
mainly
upon
the
determination with which it is applied,
its direction against the most defiant
section of the crowd to be dispersed
and the commanders absolute control
of its men under him.
It is not possible to lay down definite
rule as to when different methods or
different weapons shall be used.

POINTS FOR
CONSIDERATION

The Police officer on the spot is required to

decide this in each case on consideration of
the strength and attitude of the crowd to
be dispersed.
The strength of the police is another
consideration which the police officer has
to take.
As far as possible the use of tear smoke or
lathi charge or both , or use of rubber bullet
should be made before resorting to the use
of firearm.

 TEAR SMOKE: Under certain circumstances tear smoke

becomes very effective in dispersing the
U/A. While using the tear smoke with Hand
grenade / Gas gun , the direction of the wind
has to be taken into account.
The number of Tear smoke / Tear smoke
cartridge should also be kept as records.
Note:- Water cannon can be used along
with tear smoke
if required and
available.

LATHI CHARGE: When deciding to use lathi charge, the

strength of the police personnel has
to be considered.
Lathi charge is done only when the
strength
of
police
personnel
is
adequate in relation to the number in
the crowd.
Lathi charge should not be attempted
if the strength is not adequate.

The police personnel engaged in the

lathi charge should be under proper
control and the lathi charge should
cease as soon as the desired
objective is achieved.
The armed personnel should always
be stationed at a place of advantage
to give protection to the police force
deployed for the lathi charge so that
it can be called for action without any
delay in case of necessity.

RUBBER BULLET: Rubber bullet if available should be

next step if the above steps have
failed.
FIREARMS: The use of fire arms for dispersing the
crowd is to be resorted to only as a
last resort in exceptional and extreme
circumstances when there is imminent
and serious danger to life and property

Note:-The firing order should be taken

from the Magistrate if the magistrate
is present with the police.
When firing is
to be opened, the
responsible and senior most police
officer on the spot shall decide the
minimum number of rounds to be fired
to achieve the desired effect in the
circumstances and shall give precise
order according to a particular men or
rifle who would be opening fire.
The number of round to be fired and
the target to be fired should also be
given by the senior most police officer.

The aim should be kept low and

directed at the most threatening
part of the crowd.
Invariable, whether the order to use
firearm has been given by a
magistrate or by a police officer, the
order to cease fire shall be given by
the senior most police officer on the
spot.The fire order should stop as
soon as the U/A begins to disperse.

The responsibility of giving first

aid to the injured and taking the
injured to the hospital immediately
for treatment without loss of time
lies on the police.
The
dead
body
should
be
immidiately taken in the custody of
the police and should not be
allowed to be taken by the mob.

AFTER THE USE OF FORCEFOR

THE
DISPERSAL
OF
U.A
INVESTIGATION
MUST
BE
IMMIDIATELY STARTED AFTER
CASE REGISTRATION.