Following a seven-hour sit-in by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi outside the office of New Delhi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, the police registered an FIR against the use of pellet guns on protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament. Mr. Gandhi’s dharna was sparked by the refusal of police to register an FIR on the complaint of Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old who lost his vision in one eye after being hit by pellets during the protest. Mr. Lochab, a student of the School of Open Learning at the University of Delhi, had written a seven-page complaint detailing his injuries, including multiple pellet injuries on his chest, back, arms, and face.
He claimed that over 200 pellets were still in his body and that doctors had told him the possibility of his eyesight returning was less than one percent. Despite visiting several police stations, Mr. Lochab was unable to get his complaint registered until Mr. Gandhi intervened. The FIR was registered in the evening under Sections 118(1) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Mr. Gandhi questioned the delay in registering the FIR, suggesting that it was only possible after an order from the Union Home Ministry. He also raised concerns about the implications for people in smaller towns and villages who may face similar difficulties in getting their complaints registered. The registration of the FIR has confirmed that pellet guns were used by the police on July 20, contrary to their initial denial.
The use of pellet guns has raised questions about the police’s crowd-control protocols and the circumstances in which force was deployed against demonstrators. The Supreme Court has constituted a five-member High-Powered Enquiry Committee to conduct an independent inquiry into the police action. The committee will examine the use of pellet guns, lathis, tear gas, and electric batons, as well as whether the police response was proportionate and what caused the injuries of the protesters.
