New Delhi, Aug 2026 : The controversy surrounding the alleged use of pellet guns by Delhi Police during a students' protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 intensified on Friday, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi visiting the Parliament Street Police Station and seeking registration of an FIR into the incident.
Rahul Gandhi arrived at the police station accompanied by several individuals, including a young man who has reportedly claimed to have suffered pellet injuries during the protest. According to reports, the Congress leader met senior police officials and questioned why a case had not been registered despite allegations of the use of force against protesting students.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi met the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and sought clarification on the circumstances surrounding the alleged lathi-charge and firing of pellet guns. He also reportedly asked the police to identify the officials who authorised the use of force against the students.
The Congress leader questioned why an FIR had not been registered despite the party maintaining that the alleged incident constituted a cognisable offence.
The issue has become a major point of confrontation between the Congress and the Centre, with the Opposition accusing the government of using excessive force against students protesting over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks.
Rahul Gandhi had initially visited the Mandir Marg Police Station to meet the DCP before proceeding to the Parliament Street Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the Jantar Mantar area where the protest took place.
His visit assumes significance as the Congress leader is scheduled to address the third edition of the party's 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign in Pune on August 22. The programme is expected to focus on issues concerning students, including alleged examination irregularities and the use of police force during protests.
The Congress has indicated that Rahul Gandhi will use the platform to question the government's handling of student demonstrations and accuse authorities of attempting to suppress dissent through force.
The alleged pellet-gun victim has previously appeared alongside Rahul Gandhi during the Congress leader's campaign on the issue. At an earlier interaction with the media, Rahul Gandhi displayed the reported injuries and questioned the authorities over who had authorised the Delhi Police to use pellet guns against the protesting students.
The Congress has also raised allegations concerning the treatment of women students during protests linked to the NEET examination in Delhi. The party has sought greater accountability from the police and the government over the manner in which student demonstrations are handled.
The latest confrontation centres on the alleged refusal by Delhi Police to register a case based on the complaint submitted by the purported victim.
According to the Congress, the student, identified as Sahil Lochav, approached the Delhi Police along with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint. The party alleged that the police did not provide an I/O number or acknowledgement for the complaint.
The Congress further claimed that the matter was pursued again on August 17 through email and telephone communications, but that no acknowledgement or investigation officer details were provided.
“On 14th, Sahil Lochav went with his lawyers to Delhi Police and gave a written complaint. They refused to give a I/O number. It was again pursued on 17th with email, phone as well. Again, no I/O number given. No acknowledgement was also given,” the party said in a statement.
The Congress claimed that Rahul Gandhi accompanied the alleged victim to the police station on Friday to press for registration of the case. It further alleged that police officials did not provide details of the case officer or I/O number.
The party argued that because the allegations involve a cognisable offence, an FIR should be registered and the matter investigated.
The controversy comes amid continued political debate over the handling of student protests and allegations of examination-related irregularities. While the Congress has intensified its campaign demanding accountability, the police and authorities are expected to examine the allegations and determine the circumstances surrounding the reported injuries and use of force.
Rahul Gandhi's visit to the police station has now brought the issue into sharper political focus, with the Opposition demanding an investigation and accountability over the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 demonstration.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
