An internal investigation by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has confirmed that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired pellet guns at student protesters during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in New Delhi.
Key Findings & Developments
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RAF Personnel Identified: Inquiry logs revealed that an RAF personnel fired at least seven rounds from a 12-bore pellet gun in the Connaught Place area. Five rounds struck protesters, while two hit the ground.
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CRPF Leadership Action: CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh confirmed that a post-event assessment is underway. Meanwhile, RAF Inspector General Seema Dhundhia noted that the force gradient used was unjustified and violated standard riot-control protocols.
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Weapons Banned Pending Review: The RAF has ordered that Projectile Action Guns (PAG), Anti-Riot Guns (ARG), shock weapons, and electric shields will neither be issued nor used in Delhi until further notice.
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Injury Confirmation: Multiple victims—including a 19-year-old Delhi University student facing potential vision loss and a 28-year-old journalist—were treated for pellet wounds. Hospital reports from Safdarjung and Lady Hardinge confirmed metal and rubber pellet impact marks.
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Political Impact: Opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, presented hospital reports and hit out at the Union Government for using lethal force against agitating students. The issue sparked chaos in Parliament, leading to an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha.
