Delhi Police officials have denied allegations that security forces used pellet guns against student protesters during a recent march in New Delhi [2].
The dispute centers on the legality of force used during public demonstrations and whether specialized weaponry was deployed against civilians. These allegations raise concerns regarding police conduct and the safety of protesters during political rallies in the capital.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organized the "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20, 2024 [1]. The event was intended to protest specific governmental policies, but the gathering ended in a confrontation between protesters and law enforcement [1]. Following the event, the CJP chief spokesperson said that pellet guns were used to disperse the crowd of students [1].
Reports from the CJP include references to videos and photos that allegedly show protesters with pellet injuries [1]. These materials are being used by the party to suggest that the police utilized non-standard munitions to control the crowd [1].
Delhi Police issued a formal denial of these claims on July 21, 2024 [2]. Officials said no pellet guns were fired during the operation to manage the protest [2]. The police maintain that the allegations made by the CJP are inaccurate [2].
The contradiction between the visual evidence cited by the CJP and the official police statement remains a point of contention. While the CJP points to physical injuries as proof of pellet gun use, the police maintain that such weapons were not deployed during the "Chalo Sansad" march [1], [2].
“Delhi Police rejected the allegation, stating no pellet guns were fired.”
The conflict between the CJP's claims and the Delhi Police's denial highlights a recurring tension in India regarding the transparency of police force during political protests. Because the police deny the use of pellet guns while the party cites visual evidence of injuries, the resolution of this dispute likely depends on independent forensic verification of the injuries sustained by the students.
