New Delhi, Aug 22 (V7N)- Delhi Police has filed an FIR against an unidentified person following allegations that a student was injured by pellet firing during a protest at Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital.
The case was registered after Congress leader and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi spent more than six hours at the Parliament Street police station on Friday (August 21), according to Hindustan Times.
The complainant, student Sahil Lochav, alleged that he was injured by pellets during a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The Congress claimed that Lochav had earlier approached police with a written complaint but that officers initially refused to register a case.
Rahul Gandhi accompanied Lochav to the Parliament Street police station on Friday to protest the police's handling of the complaint. He later sat in front of the Deputy Commissioner of Police's office and demanded immediate registration of an FIR, arguing that the alleged incident constituted a cognizable offence.
After more than six hours of a standoff, police registered a case based on Lochav's complaint. Following the registration, Rahul Gandhi and Lochav showed a copy of the FIR to journalists, after which Gandhi ended his sit-in.
Delhi Police did not immediately issue an official statement regarding the complaint or the circumstances surrounding the case.
Debate over alleged pellet use
The alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest has triggered intense debate in India. Although police have not officially confirmed the allegations, Hindustan Times, citing the daily diary of the Parliament Street police station, reported that Rapid Action Force personnel used two rounds from anti-riot guns and two rounds of plastic pellets while attempting to control the situation.
Various groups have called for an impartial investigation into allegations of pellet firing and excessive use of force against protesters.
Against this backdrop, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday formed a five-member high-level investigation committee headed by retired Justice R. Subhash Reddy.
The committee will examine the police response to the protests, including allegations involving pellet guns, electric batons, lathi-charge and tear gas.
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