An internal inquiry by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is investigating the alleged use of pellet guns on student protesters during the anti-paper leak demonstrations in Delhi. According to sources, the inquiry report is expected within a week.
Officials familiar with the investigation said one Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel has been identified for allegedly firing seven rounds during the July 20 clashes in Connaught Place. Five of those rounds reportedly struck protesters, while two did not hit anyone.
The inquiry will examine the circumstances under which pellet guns were used, the locations where they were fired and whether standard operating procedures were followed. Further action will be decided after the report is submitted.
CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh said the force would carry out a professional post-event assessment now that the protests have ended. “We conduct such reviews after every major deployment, and the headquarters will take an appropriate view once the assessment is complete,” he said.
The allegations stem from the July 20 protest march to Parliament, where students demanded the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. Police used tear gas and lathi-charge after violence broke out during the march.
While Delhi Police denied using pellet guns, several protesters claimed they suffered pellet injuries. A government hospital earlier confirmed pellet wounds on one protester, while at least four people were reported injured.
Following the controversy, a meeting chaired by Inspector General Seema Dhundhia directed that projectile action guns (PAG), anti-riot guns (ARG), electric shock weapons and electric shields should not be used or issued in Delhi until further orders. Sources also said Dhundhia expressed serious concern over the RAF’s handling of the protest, calling the use of force excessive and inconsistent with standard training procedures.
One 28-year-old protester claimed he sustained around 30 pellet injuries. Safdarjung Hospital reportedly confirmed the wounds, with medical records noting pellet fragments, skin damage and tenderness. The protester alleged the pellets struck his back and elbow after he saw a security personnel aiming a pellet gun in his direction.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi shared a video with an injured protester and accused the government of using excessive force against students. He also wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability and questioning whether the use of such force had been officially authorised.
The issue also echoed in Parliament, where Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, criticised the handling of the protests, leading to disruptions in the proceedings.
