Police Records Contradict Denial of Pellet Gun Use During Delhi Protest
Internal police documents reveal the Rapid Action Force deployed pellet guns against protesters on July 20 under direct orders from senior leadership. This admission challenges official denials and marks the first recorded use of such weaponry against unarmed civilians in the capital.
Internal Logbook Confirms Anti-Riot Firearm Deployment
Official records from the Parliament Street police station directly challenge earlier assertions by Delhi Police regarding the weapons used during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) march on July 20. A general diary entry filed by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at 1:24 a.m. confirms that personnel discharged two rounds of ballistic cartridges containing plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun. This action reportedly took place under the explicit command of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer.
The logbook details an extensive arsenal used to manage the crowd seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradesh. In addition to the pellet rounds fired by an RAF Deputy Commandant, the unit deployed:
- 55 rounds of non-electrical shells
- 15 rounds of electrical shells
- Five tear smoke grenades
Medical Fallout and Legal Escalation
The human cost of this deployment surfaced on July 21 when government hospitals began treating victims for projectile injuries. Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old protester, faces the potential loss of sight in his right eye after a pellet pierced his pupil. At least four individuals sustained injuries consistent with pellet fire during the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
This incident represents the first time law enforcement has utilized pellet guns against unarmed protesters within the national capital. The RAF, a specialized wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), maintains these weapons as standard anti-riot gear, though their use remains highly controversial in civilian settings.
Supreme Court Petition Targets Kinetic Projectiles
In response to the violence, a petition reached the Supreme Court on July 27. Led by former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad and two injured victims—an artist and a professional—the filing demands an immediate ban on metallic or semi-metallic kinetic projectiles fired from pump-action rifles. The petitioners are seeking exemplary compensation for those harmed on July 20 and a government commitment to provide comprehensive medical rehabilitation for all victims of state-sanctioned pellet fire.
Source: The Hindu — Home
