New Delhi, Oct 30 : Animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Friday announced an award to honour the Khadi and Village Industries Commission that accepted their plea to to stop selling catapaults "used by kids to harm animals".

"PETA India was delighted to hear that the Khadi has recommended a ban on catapults, or slingshots - which are popular but very destructive weapons. For their decision, PETA is bestowing its 'Proggy' award on the commission," a PETA statement said.    

According to PETA's Ashish Verma, Proggy awards are given to businesses and individuals who implement "progressive and humane business practices that take animals into consideration".    

The statement said that children across India aim catapults at birds, cows, dogs and other animals, often blinding or killing them.    

"Children form ammunition from sun-hardened mud mixed with crushed glass, metal balls, marbles or stones," PETA head and parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi said in the statement.

Gandhi alleged that the rubber used to make catapults is "smuggled from Myanmar and makes slingshots more lethal, enabling shooters to send the shots or gullen, faster and farther than rubber taken from old tyres, which was used in the past".   (IANS)