RAF personnel used pellet guns on protesters during CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ March on 20 July: Report

A Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed in New Delhi’s Connaught Place during the 20 July “Chalo Sansad” protest march to Parliament fired at least seven rounds from a pellet gun. Of these, five rounds hit protesters, while two struck the ground, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has found.

The development comes days after The Indian Express reported that the CRPF had launched an inquiry into whether RAF personnel used pellet guns during a crackdown on protesters backing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s demonstrations demanding the resignation of former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

RAF personnel used pellet guns: Here’s what the probe found

According to a report by The Indian Express, at least three people sustained pellet gun injuries during the march and were treated in hospitals. They included Irshad Sheikh, 25, who works in Gurgaon; Sahil Lochab, 19, a Delhi University student; and a 28-year-old journalist with Outlook magazine.

Citing a source, the report added, “Five of the rounds hit the protesters, and two hit the ground. The rounds were fired after protesters attacked security personnel and started pelting stones.”

The report added that the CRPF examined log entries made by RAF personnel and found that a single personnel had fired all seven pellet rounds in Connaught Place.

CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh reiterated his earlier statement: “Now, since the agitation has been called off, and assembled people have dispersed, we would make a professional post-event assessment, like we do after every major assignment, and then let you know the view of the Force headquarters.”

Internal review flags operational lapses

On 26 July, The Indian Express also reported that RAF Inspector General Seema Dhundhia told personnel that the “force gradient” used for crowd control during the 20 July protest march did not comply with prescribed standards or RAF training protocols. The observation came after an internal review identified serious operational lapses.

Force gradient refers to the different levels of force that police are likely to use depending on the resistance or threats they face.

Last week, Dhundhia held a press conference with company commanders and commandants in Delhi, during which she reviewed the role, deployment, and conduct of RAF personnel during the Jantar Mantar protest and the Chalo Sansad march. A series of corrective measures was also laid down for future deployments.

Personnel were also instructed that, during future law and order duties, force must be used only to the extent necessary and in a balanced and sensitive manner. They were further directed to issue necessary warnings before using force.

Citing CRPF sources, India Today reported that more than 47 RAF personnel were injured in the Connaught Place area, some of them seriously.

CJP protest

The CRPF findings come nearly a week after Delhi Police resorted to a lathi charge and tear gas to disperse protesters marching towards Parliament on 20 July in support of the CJP’s protest over alleged irregularities in the education system and the NEET-UG paper leak.

Despite the lathi charge and use of tear gas, protesters continued their demonstrations at Jantar Mantar for the rest of the week, while large-scale protests were also witnessed in several other states.