New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has started an internal inquiry following allegations that pellet guns were used during the July 20 crackdown on protesters marching towards Parliament. The investigation will examine the sequence of events and determine whether personnel from its Rapid Action Force (RAF) used pellet guns during the operation.
The RAF is a specialised CRPF unit that was formed in 1992 to handle riots and other situations involving public disorder.
At the same time, the Centre has reportedly instructed the CRPF to avoid using pellet guns while deployed at Jantar Mantar, where members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and their supporters continue to protest over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination reforms.
The inquiry comes after at least three people were treated in hospitals for injuries believed to have been caused by pellets during the July 20 police action.
Those injured include 25-year-old Gurugram resident Irshad Sheikh, 19-year-old Delhi University student Sahil Lochab, and a 28-year-old journalist associated with Outlook magazine.
When asked about the reported direction from the Centre, a CRPF spokesperson told the Indian Express, “We are comprehensively enquiring into the whole gamut of events. It will be premature to comment now.”
Sahil Lochab, who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre, reportedly suffered injuries to the right side of his body and may lose vision in his right eye. Hospital officials said he remains stable and continues to receive treatment.
Lochab said he joined the protest after the cancellation of the Delhi Police recruitment examination following an alleged paper leak.
Describing the incident, he said, “I folded my hands as the security forces came running towards us. And then something hit the right side of my face and I fell down.”
He was initially taken to Lady Hardinge Hospital before being shifted to Safdarjung Hospital and later to AIIMS Trauma Centre because of the seriousness of his injuries.
A 28-year-old journalist with Outlook magazine also sustained injuries during the protest. A medical report issued by Safdarjung Hospital reportedly noted injuries from “physical assault at Jantar Mantar by pellet gun” and described multiple wounds on his right arm, chest and back that were “consistent with pellets”. The journalist has since resumed work from home.
Before these cases came to light, Delhi Police had rejected claims that pellet guns were used against peaceful protesters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the police said, “Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading.”
However, with three reported cases of pellet-related injuries now under treatment, the CRPF has begun its own inquiry. Sources said pellet guns and shock batons are part of the RAF’s riot-control equipment, although officials claimed no one in the force was initially aware of their alleged use during the July 20 operation.
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