CRPF chief urges RAF personnel to serve with dedication amid pellet gun allegations

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General G. P. Singh on Friday visited the headquarters of the Rapid Action Force’s (RAF) 103 battalion in Delhi and urged personnel to “serve the nation with unwavering dedication”. The visit came amid allegations that RAF personnel fired pellet guns at protesters during a march to Parliament on July 20.

The RAF is the specialised anti-riot unit of the CRPF and was deployed under the operational control of the Delhi Police on July 20. In a post on X, the CRPF said that at the headquarters, the Director General “paid solemn tribute to martyrs at the Martyrs’ Memorial and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent”.

In a subsequent post, the CRPF said, “Standing shoulder to shoulder with our brave personnel, continuing his visit to 103 RAF, DG, CRPF, Shri G. P. Singh, IPS, held an inspiring Samvad with the RAF troops, including the troops deployed across the country, through VC, urging them to serve the nation with unwavering dedication. The visit concluded with a high-tea interaction, reinforcing the strong bond within the force.”

The visit comes after a general diary entry filed by the RAF at the Parliament Street police station on July 22 revealed that two rounds were fired from an anti-riot gun at the directions of an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). At least four people were injured, with one feared to lose vision in his right eye. The Delhi Police had earlier denied the use of pellet guns.

Following the July 20 incident, the RAF withdrew shock batons, electric shields, pump-action guns and anti-riot guns, which fire pellets, from personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar. During a video conference after the incident, Inspector General, RAF, Seema Dhundhia, “gave clear directions that during the current Delhi deployment, the situation has been analysed and until further orders, pump action guns (PAG), anti-riot guns (ARG), electric shock weapon, and electric shields shall not be used or issued to personnel”.

The protest at Jantar Mantar was called off on July 25 after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. Minutes of the meeting accessed by The Hindu said that “serious deficiencies were observed in many aspects of the operation, which need to be improved in the future”. The Inspector General directed that the core principle of the RAF is “sensitive policing” and that the use of force in every situation must be done only to the necessary extent, in a judicious, fair, restrained, and sensitive manner.

The use of pellet guns in crowd control has been a subject of debate due to the risk of severe injuries. The July 20 incident intensified scrutiny on the rules of engagement for law enforcement agencies during protests. The RAF, known for its rapid deployment and specialised training in riot control, has been under focus since the incident.

Earlier on July 27, while speaking at the CRPF’s Raising Day, Mr. Singh asked personnel to “work fearlessly”, saying that he was there to take responsibility. “I have said this before, and I reiterate and assure each one of you that whether it is an operational battalion or a law-and-order unit, whatever decisions you take and whatever actions you carry out in the bona fide discharge of your duties, I take responsibility for all those decisions and actions,” Mr. Singh said.