Supreme Court Petition Challenges Law Enforcement Use of Pellet Guns in Crowd Control
A former intelligence official and injury victims have approached the Supreme Court to demand a nationwide ban on metallic kinetic projectiles. The legal challenge follows a July 20 incident in Connaught Place that left multiple civilians wounded by pump-action rifle fire.
Legal Action Targets Metallic Projectiles
Former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad has teamed with two victims of police action to file a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a total decommissioning of pellet-based weaponry. The legal challenge targets the use of both wholly and partly metallic kinetic projectiles fired from pump-action rifles or projectile-action guns (PAG) during civilian crowd dispersal operations. Beyond the ban, the petitioners are demanding that the state provide exemplary compensation, comprehensive medical rehabilitation, and long-term care for all individuals harmed by these weapons during the events of July 20.
The Connaught Place Incident
The litigation stems from a specific confrontation at roughly 4:30 p.m. on July 20 in Delhi's Connaught Place. According to court filings, two of the petitioners observed security forces pushing a crowd toward the inner circle of the commercial district. The petition describes a scene where protesters attempted to flee while signaling submission. Details of the encounter include:
- Protesters raised their arms in a surrender posture to signal a lack of hostility.
- Rapid Action Force (RAF) units allegedly deployed pump-action guns without immediate provocation.
- The resulting spray of splinter-like pellets caused deep penetration wounds, immediate hemorrhaging, and severe pain for the second and third petitioners.
Accountability and Policy Reform
The petitioners argue that the deployment of such weaponry constitutes a disproportionate use of force against civilian assemblies. The filing asserts that the physical trauma inflicted by these metallic splinters necessitates a reevaluation of law enforcement protocols to prevent permanent injury to non-violent participants. By seeking a Supreme Court mandate, the group aims to force law enforcement agencies to transition away from projectile-action guns in favor of safer crowd management alternatives.
Source: The Hindu — Home
