Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi defends the human shield used by the army in Kashmir's Budgam district. He said the situation demanded it and it was an effective tactic that ensured no lives were lost.

The government has also stood by the Army officer who took the decision to use an alleged stone-pelter as a "human shield" tied to a jeep to steer his unit and Jammu and Kashmir officials and paramilitary personnel on election duty to safety.

The government has taken note of an Army probe into the April 9 incident which concluded that the commanding officer took the decision reluctantly and as the last resort after he realised that his unit had to pass through streets crowded with a mob of stone-pelters who had also taken positions on surrounding rooftops.

The trapped personnel included about a dozen local J&K employees, about 9-10 ITBP jawans, a couple of constables from J&K police and a bus driver.

Defence minister Arun Jaitley is likely to address the issue when he meets Army commanders today.