Rahul Gandhi dharna: Police register FIR on protester's pellet injury complaint, says report

Rahul Gandhi staged dharna outside the police station.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR over an alleged pellet-gun injury suffered by student protester Sahil Lochab during the July 20 Jantar Mantar demonstration, news agency ANI reported quoting sources.The FIR came after Rahul accompanied Lochab to the DCP office and demanded action on his complaint alleging excessive use of force during the students’ “Sansad Chalo” march.Rahul later staged a sit-in outside the police station, alleging that police had refused to register the complaint. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined him in the dharna.According to Congress sources, Lochab and his lawyers had submitted a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14 but were allegedly not given an I/O number or acknowledgement. The complaint was followed up on August 17 through email and phone, the sources said.The complaint relates to alleged police action and pellet-gun firing during the July 20 student protest over the NEET paper-leak controversy.

After meeting senior police officials, Rahul had alleged that Lochab was not being allowed to file an FIR.”Sahil wants to file FIR for justice, but that is not being allowed,” Rahul said.He then sat on a dharna outside the police station with Lochab. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed at the spot as the confrontation continued.Rahul accused the authorities of undermining constitutional principles, saying that refusing to register an FIR amounted to the “Constitution being trampled”.In a post on X, Rahul said Lochab was “severely injured” during the alleged police crackdown and claimed that his vision in one eye was at risk.

Speaking to reporters, Rahul displayed pellets and claimed that more than 200 pellets were lodged in Lochab’s body.”Look at this pellet carefully. This is a pellet. Where did these pellets come from? They came from his body,” Rahul said.He claimed that three pellets were lodged in Lochab’s eye and that he had lost vision in that eye. Rahul also said some pellets were lodged close to his heart and could not be removed.Rahul questioned the Delhi Police’s alleged claim that its personnel had not fired pellets.”Delhi Police has said that they did not fire the pellets. So, there is only one question: If you did not fire them, then someone must have fired these pellets,” he said.Rahul also targeted Union home minister Amit Shah, whose ministry oversees the Delhi Police.”Such brutality against a peaceful protest is not just illegal — it’s a serious crime,” Rahul said, accusing Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to respond to the students’ concerns.”Amit Shah ji, why are you so scared of justice? This fear shows that you are admitting to your crime,” he said.Rahul demanded a judicial inquiry and said those responsible for the alleged violence should face action.”The FIR will be filed. A judicial inquiry will take place. And action will be taken against everyone, from top to bottom, who is guilty of this brutality,” he said.

Lochab said he was injured during the July 20 protest and was first admitted to Lady Hardinge Hospital before being referred to AIIMS, where he underwent surgery.”On 20th July, pellet guns were fired at me. I was admitted to Lady Hardinge, from there, I was referred to AIIMS. I underwent surgery at AIIMS. But the vision in my eye is still not clear,” he said.He said he had submitted a seven-page complaint through his lawyer on August 14.The July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march was part of student protests over alleged irregularities in examinations and the NEET paper-leak controversy. The police action during the protest had triggered a political confrontation, with opposition parties accusing the government of using excessive force against students.

This protest was Rahul’s second major intervention over the issue. Earlier, he and other opposition leaders had marched towards Prime Minister Modi’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg over the alleged crackdown and were briefly detained by police.