Rahul Gandhi Calls for Accountability After ‘Barbaric’ Assault on Student Protesters in Delhi

On July 25, 2026, Rahul Gandhi slipped a strongly worded letter into Amit Shah’s official mailbox, asking the Home Minister point‑blank whether he had authorised the use of ‘lethal force’ – pellet guns, tear‑gas canisters and even lathis – against a crowd of students marching peacefully in Delhi.

Gandhi’s tone was anything but diplomatic. He described the crackdown as a “barbaric assault” on the nation’s youth, insisting that such brutality “destroys every norm” and has “outraged the country.” The Congress leader reminded Shah that the right to protest is a cornerstone of any democracy, and it is the government’s job to protect, not punish, those exercising that right.

According to the letter, the students were demanding a more accountable and transparent education system. Instead of dialogue, they were met with a barrage of pellets that left “hundreds with serious injuries,” Gandhi wrote. He singled out a 19‑year‑old student, Sahil Lochab, who, he claimed, is at risk of losing an eye after being struck by a pellet.

“Women students were also targeted, with some reports of police aiming at private parts,” Gandhi added, a detail that has been echoing across social media and the mainstream press. The former Congress chief also questioned the identity of the plain‑clothes men seen beating demonstrators with lathis – were they police, volunteers, or something else?

Behind the protest, the larger movement – organized by the Centre for Justice and Peace (CJP) – had begun at Jantar Mantar on June 20, only to gain momentum when activist Sonam Wangchuk joined and launched an indefinite fast on June 28. After the central government reached out, Wangchuk called off his fast on Thursday night, but the damage done on July 20 was already a turning point.

Gandhi didn’t stop at demanding answers. He urged that anyone responsible for firing pellet guns or baton‑charging students be held to account, and he pressed for a public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a brief media appearance, Gandhi held the injured student, Sahil, by the shoulder and recounted his own brother’s similar experience with pellet fire, underscoring how personal and widespread the trauma has become.

Whether Shah will respond directly to the accusations remains to be seen, but the letter has already added another layer of political pressure to a protest that has already captured national attention.