Fresh allegations over the use of pellet-firing weapons during the police crackdown on the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march in Delhi have sparked controversy after at least two protesters underwent surgery for suspected pellet injuries, with one teenager reportedly facing the risk of permanent vision loss.
The protests, organised by the student-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the alleged NEET paper leak, turned violent after security personnel stopped demonstrators marching towards Parliament.
According to hospital sources, more than 80 people, including protesters and police personnel, were injured during the clashes.
Teenager Suffers Serious Eye Injury
Nineteen-year-old protester Sahil Lochab underwent surgery at AIIMS’ Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre after pellets were allegedly lodged in his right eye.
His family said doctors informed them that damage to his pupil had left him with only a “1% chance” of regaining vision in the affected eye. The pellets were removed during surgery, but doctors fear the injury could result in permanent blindness.
Another protester, 25-year-old Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, underwent surgery at Lady Hardinge Medical College after sustaining multiple pellet-like injuries to his face and neck.
Hospital sources said pellets lodged below his eyes were removed successfully, while another pellet near a blood vessel in his neck could not be extracted and may require another surgery.
According to a friend, Mansoori told Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda during his hospital visit that he had joined the protest because of “issues in the education system.”
Videos and Eyewitness Accounts Raise Questions
Reports have cited videos allegedly showing a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel firing what appeared to be a pellet gun near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place, where Mansoori was injured.
Another video circulating on social media reportedly shows another protester with similar injuries.
Separately, an Outlook magazine reporter claimed he suffered multiple puncture wounds after being struck by what he believed was a pellet-firing weapon during the clashes.
“I saw it aimed at me and immediately ran. Something struck my backpack and my arm. If I hadn’t turned, it could have hit my chest or my face,” the journalist said.
Medical records reportedly documented multiple puncture wounds on his arm.
Delhi Police Deny Using Pellet Guns
Delhi Police have repeatedly denied using pellet guns during the protest.
In a statement, the force said, “Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading.”
Police further said Delhi Police neither possess nor used pellet guns during the operation and urged people not to circulate unverified information.
However, the allegations have focused largely on the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised anti-riot unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was deployed alongside Delhi Police during the protest. The CRPF has not publicly commented on the allegations.
Other Protesters Also Injured
Apart from the suspected pellet injuries, several protesters sustained serious injuries during the crackdown.
A 21-year-old student, Sakshi, remains in the intensive care unit at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after she was reportedly trapped in a crowd crush during the police action.
Another protester, 32-year-old Nutan Toppo, underwent emergency surgery after a tear gas shell allegedly struck near her ear, causing severe injuries.
Nineteen-year-old NEET aspirant Abhishek Sharma also reportedly required stitches after suffering head injuries during the clashes.
Hospital sources said dozens of injured protesters and police personnel were brought to hospitals following the confrontation.
Calls for Independent Probe Grow
The controversy has renewed scrutiny over the use of crowd-control weapons in India.
Pellet guns, which fire hundreds of small metal pellets in a single shot, have long been criticised by human rights groups because they can cause severe eye injuries, facial trauma and permanent blindness. Their use during the 2016 unrest in Jammu and Kashmir drew widespread criticism after hundreds of civilians suffered serious eye injuries.
While hospital sources, eyewitness accounts and videos have raised questions about the use of pellet-firing weapons during the Delhi protest, no forensic report confirming the nature of the injuries has yet been made public. Delhi Police continue to deny the allegations, and the CRPF has not commented on claims involving the Rapid Action Force.
