(file photo) More than 47 RAF personnel deployed in the Connaught Place area were also injured during the parliament march violence, including some of them sustaining serious injuries, they added
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Amid growing demands for accountability over the use of pellet-firing shotguns, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has launched an internal probe to verify if Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired at student protesters on July 20. The students were marching to Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.At least three persons, Sahil Lochab, a Delhi University student, Gurugram-based worker Irshad Sheikh and a journalist of the Outlook Magazine were hit by pellets fired by the RAF personnel deployed on duty following protest at Jantar Mantar and adjoining areas surrounding parliament. The RAF was raised within the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) especially for riot control, crowd management, and handling civil unrest.Seven rounds of pellets were reportedly fired from a gun by a RAF personnel stationed at Rajiv Chowk area, with five of them hitting protestors.The trio faced injuries over their faces and bodies, with worst sufferer being Lochab who took direct hit in his right eye. The impact of shrapnel that pierced his right eye has caused near-total vision loss, with doctors of a hospital in the capital where he was treated giving him rare chance of recovering his sight.“professional post-event assessment”Without getting into specifics, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh in his first reaction on the controversy said a “professional post-event assessment” would be carried out into the action taken by RAF personnel against the students and others protesting against NEET examination paper leak, which ultimately forced Dharmendra Pradhan to resign on Saturday.He also stated to a news agency that CRPF headquarters will present its official view after the “assessment” is over.“Now, since agitation has been called off, and assembled people have dispersed, we would make a professional post-event assessment, as we do after every major assignment, and then let you know the view of the force headquarters,” Singh said.CRPF sources, however, said, “initial findings are known, but a final report will be available only after a comprehensive investigation and review.”CRPF officials stated that the analysis will assess the “sequence of events and whether the use of the pellet guns was in accordance with established protocols.” In the past too use of pellet-riring shotguns for crowd control by law enforcement agencies, which originated in 2010, had courted controvery.More than 47 RAF personnel deployed in the Connaught Place area were also injured during the parliament march violence, including some of them sustaining serious injuries, they added.Meanwhile, opposition parties on Monday submitted notices seeking an urgent discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the alleged use of force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak controversy. The move is an attempt to put Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the mat since the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), under which comes CRPF, and Delhi Police come under his ministry.“To seek a statement from the Union Home Minister clarifying whether the use of force was authorised and identifying those responsible, and to seek a statement from the Hon’ble Prime Minister on the Government’s response, accountability and safeguards for the future. In view of these pressing concerns, the matter requires urgent consideration and discussion by the House,” the notices by Congress MPs Sandeep Surjewala, Syed Hussain and Renuka Chowdhury said.TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh joined Congress leaders to file notices in the Upper House under Rule 267 demanding suspension of the listed business to take up the discussion on the important issue while demanding accountability from Home Minister Amit Shah.Published on July 27, 2026
