Policemen are being trained to use
the weapons, despite concerns over their safety for crowd control.
Abhishek Jorwal, chief of police in
Haryana's Jind district, told the BBC that the slingshots "were made after
a lot of research and development".
The "specially-designed"
slingshots would be in addition to batons, tear gas and other weapons currently
in use.
Mr Jorwal said the "idea is to
avoid the use of lethal weapons against the protesters".
"Officers have been instructed
to use slingshots and tear gas shells, and keep guns and bullets as the last
option."
Marbles and chilli balls, packed in
small bags carried by the policemen, will be used as ammunition for the
slingshots.
"Marbles and chilli balls
won't cause any permanent damage but will pack enough punch to push protesters
back," he said. 
Handmade weapons, such as
slingshots, are rarely used as a weapon by security forces in India.
But the use of non-lethal weapons,
such as pellet guns, in trouble-hit areas such as disputed Kashmir has resulted
in serious injuries
to protesters and bystanders.
Correspondents say there concerns
marbles and other objects fired from police catapults could also badly injure
civilians. (BBC)
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