Delhi Police registered a first information report (FIR) on Friday after prolonged pressure from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who led a sit-in protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding an FIR be filed against those responsible for pellet injuries inflicted on a student during a July 20 protest. The FIR was filed under Sections 118(1) and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with voluntary infliction of grievous harm through dangerous weapons and actions endangering life or personal safety. The case follows allegations by 19-year-old Delhi University student Sahil Lochab, who claims he was shot multiple times with pellets during the Jantar Mantar protest, resulting in severe injuries to his right eye and extensive internal damage. Lochab, a student at the School of Open Learning, had previously attempted to register an FIR with multiple police stations, including Connaught Place, Sansad Marg, and Mandir Marg, but his complaints were consistently ignored. On August 14, he submitted a detailed seven-page complaint to the authorities, outlining the extent of his injuries and requesting formal legal action. Despite repeated attempts, the police refused to acknowledge his case, leading to frustration among both the student and his family. The situation escalated when Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, decided to intervene. On August 21, Gandhi arrived at the Parliament Street police station alongside Lochab, his mother, and their legal representative. He demanded immediate action from the authorities, accusing the police of receiving directives from higher-ups to avoid registering an FIR. As the protest continued for over six hours, the police eventually relented and registered the FIR. The process was marked by tension, with Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others, entering the premises to support the cause. The police station became a focal point of public attention, with supporters gathering outside and some attempting to breach the barricades. According to Lochab’s statement in the FIR, he was part of a protest organized against alleged irregularities in competitive exams, particularly the NEET paper leak and Delhi Police recruitment exam cheating. During the demonstration, a lathi charge and tear gas were deployed, creating a chaotic environment. As he fled with the crowd toward the Palika Bazaar area, he was struck by pellets fired from a rifle carried by a person in a blue uniform. The injuries left him with multiple wounds, including three pellets embedded in his right eye, which significantly impaired his vision. A CT scan revealed over 200 pellets lodged in various parts of his body, including near his heart, making removal difficult and prolonging his medical treatment. Lochab described the incident as a tragic consequence of peaceful dissent, emphasizing that he had done nothing wrong. He expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the use of pellet guns by law enforcement and urged the authorities to preserve CCTV and drone footage from the scene for further investigation. His account aligns with reports from the Delhi Police, which acknowledged the use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest, despite initial denials. A Right to Information (RTI) response indicated that ten individuals had been treated for pellet-related injuries at government hospitals, though the police initially claimed no serious harm occurred. The controversy surrounding the incident intensified when the Supreme Court formed a high-powered inquiry committee to investigate the police action. The committee, chaired by a former Supreme Court judge, will assess the circumstances of the use of pellet guns and evaluate whether the force employed was justified. Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, faced criticism for allegedly delaying the registration of the FIR, with Congress leaders accusing him of evading accountability. The delay, they argued, highlighted systemic issues within the police department and underscored the challenges faced by citizens in securing justice. As the FIR was officially registered, Rahul Gandhi hailed it as a crucial step toward justice, although he emphasized that the process had been unnecessarily protracted. He criticized the bureaucratic hurdles and the perceived influence of higher authorities in obstructing the registration of the case. The incident has sparked broader discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices, especially concerning the use of non-lethal weapons during public demonstrations. With the FIR now in place, the focus shifts to the upcoming inquiry and the potential consequences for those found responsible for the excessive use of force.
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