Updated

India's home minister says government troops will begin using some chili-filled shells instead of shotgun pellets to control angry crowds in the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to reporters Monday in the region's main city, Srinagar.

Kashmir has experienced some of its biggest displays of anti-India anger in recent years after Indian troops killed a hugely popular rebel commander on July 8. Troops have used live ammunition and pellet guns to control rock-throwing crowds, killing more than 70 people and leaving thousands of others injured.

According to local officials and doctors, the use of pellet guns has killed at least four people and left more than 100 partially or completely blind.

The new shells are said to severely irritate and temporarily immobilize their targets.