During a protest in central Delhi on 20 July, tensions between demonstrators and security forces resulted in what independent ballistic experts have determined were pellet gun injuries affecting multiple protesters. The Cockroach Janta Party demonstration, which drew tens of thousands seeking education reforms and the resignation of the education minister, turned violent when police and paramilitary personnel deployed wooden sticks, batons, and tear gas against crowds attempting to march toward parliament. Official figures reported 60 injured protesters and 118 injured personnel, though protest organizers disputed the accuracy of these numbers.
Ballistic forensic specialists from the United Kingdom examined evidence and confirmed that at least four documented cases involved wounds consistent with birdshot pellets fired from shotguns. These experts identified the weapon as a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, noting that pellet injuries from such weapons can be severe and potentially life-threatening even at significant distances. While shotgun-based crowd control tools have a documented history in Indian law enforcement, particularly in Kashmir where they have been employed since 2010, their use in the capital city would represent a significant escalation.
Initially, Delhi Police stated they did not possess pellet guns and characterized reports of their use as “completely false and misleading.” Subsequent media reporting suggested the Rapid Action Force, operating under the Central Reserve Police Force, may have been responsible. A government minister stated in parliament that only tear gas was used, declining to address specific questions about pellet weapons. The CRPF leadership has not responded to inquiries from journalists seeking clarification.
Several injured individuals provided accounts of their experiences. One young man sustained 26 pellet wounds requiring hospitalization, while another sustained over 40 pellets embedded in his body, including in his neck and eye area. A university student emerged as a public figure in the controversy after displaying extensive injuries, subsequently joining opposition political figures in calling for accountability and demanding the removal of officials overseeing security forces. Medical professionals confirmed treating patients for pellet-related injuries, though some declined to speculate on their origin pending forensic analysis.
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