Delhi's Day of Pellets: The Unprecedented Crackdown on Protesters and Its Devastating Aftermath

Delhi, a city often witness to spirited protests, saw an altogether different kind of confrontation unfold on July 20, 2026. What began as a determined march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) – primarily students and concerned citizens – against alleged examination irregularities and a fervent call for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, quickly descended into chaos. The planned march towards Parliament, initially centered around Jantar Mantar, escalated dramatically, leaving a trail of questions and, more alarmingly, severe injuries.

Initially, there was a firm denial from the Delhi Police. "Pellet guns? No, absolutely not," seemed to be the official line, urging people not to believe what they saw or heard on social media. But as we've learned time and again, the truth has a way of surfacing. A general daily diary (DD) entry, specifically number 0008A, from the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, soon painted a starkly different picture. It confirmed, in no uncertain terms, that pellet guns had indeed been deployed during that very Parliament march.

The details emerging from police records are quite unsettling. It wasn't just a random act; the use of force was reportedly ordered by a Deputy Police Commissioner (DCP) on duty, alongside a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deputy commandant. They authorized at least two rounds of firing. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) team, specifically, discharged a significant arsenal: 55 non-electric shells, 15 electric shells, five tear smoke grenades, and two rounds from an Anti-Riot Gun (ARG) loaded with ballistic cartridges containing plastic pellets. This isn't just riot control; it's a full-fledged deployment of potentially lethal force.

What makes this particular incident so gravely concerning is its unprecedented nature in Delhi. While pellet guns and shock batons are indeed listed in the RAF's manual as riot-control equipment, their use against civilian protesters in the capital is, to our knowledge, a first. This immediately triggered an internal inquiry by the CRPF into the actions of its RAF personnel, and even the Centre stepped in, advising the CRPF to refrain from using pellet guns in the sensitive Jantar Mantar area.

The human cost of this crackdown is, frankly, heartbreaking. Reports suggest at least 80 protesters sustained injuries, with a particularly grim focus on those hit by pellets. Consider Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, a 25-year-old working in Gurgaon, who suffered pellet wounds near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place – a location initially disputed by police. He later sought treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College and is now one of the petitioners bravely challenging the use of these weapons in the Supreme Court.

Then there's Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old Delhi University student whose life may be irrevocably altered. A pellet injury to his right eye has left him facing the devastating prospect of losing his vision. Even journalists weren't spared; a 28-year-old from Outlook magazine recounted being "physically assaulted at Jantar Mantar by pellet gun," as noted in his medical report from Safdarjung Hospital. Prashant Kumar Singh, another petitioner in the Supreme Court, also bore pellet wounds. The sheer potential for severe, permanent damage from these projectiles – from organ damage and neurological deficits to permanent blindness and even systemic lead poisoning – underscores the gravity of their deployment.

In the wake of the public outcry and mounting evidence, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan eventually tendered his resignation, a key demand of the CJP protest. Even high-profile political figures, such as Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition, were seen visiting and expressing solidarity with pellet injury victims. Former IPS officer Yashovardhan Azad, along with victims Prashant Kumar Singh and Sheikh Irshad Mansoori, have since approached the Supreme Court, seeking a complete ban on pellet gun use and demanding compensation for those injured. It’s a crucial legal battle, one that could shape the future of protest management in India.

The events of July 20, 2026, serve as a stark reminder of the fine line between maintaining order and violating fundamental rights. The revelation that police used pellet guns on citizens in Delhi, a move previously associated with more volatile regions, has ignited a vital debate about accountability, proportionate force, and the protection of democratic expression. As inquiries continue and legal battles unfold, the hope remains that such an incident will never be repeated, and justice will be served for those who bore the brunt of this unprecedented crackdown.