CRPF: Pellet Gun Use in Delhi Protest Not a Human Rights Violation

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has said that the use of pellet guns on protesters in Delhi does not constitute a human rights violation, according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply shared by former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale.

Mr. Gokhale, a Trinamool Congress leader, announced on Monday that he would submit the CRPF's response to the Supreme Court. In a post on X, he shared a copy of his RTI application, which sought information about the firing of pellet ammunition by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a unit under the CRPF, during a protest on July 20.

The CRPF, in its written reply, said that the allegations mentioned in the application do not attract the exception relating to human rights violations under the RTI Act. The force is exempt from the RTI Act except for cases involving corruption or human rights violations.

Mr. Gokhale said he filed the RTI after the RAF used pellet guns on students marching to Parliament on July 20. He claimed that the government initially denied the use of pellet guns and later refused to provide details about the number of victims. He expressed bewilderment that the CRPF, under Union Home Minister Amit Shah, does not view the use of pellet guns on protesters as a human rights violation.

He also said that pellet guns are prohibited under international law, a characterization that has been made by various human rights organizations. Calling the CRPF's argument “shocking in any civilized democracy,” he said he would approach the Supreme Court to seek its view on the matter.

In earlier RTI responses, Mr. Gokhale said records from Lady Hardinge Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital showed nine and one persons, respectively, with pellet gun injuries on July 20. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) refused to disclose similar information, citing provisions protecting personal information under the RTI Act.

The July 20 protest saw students marching to Parliament, and police used pellet guns to disperse the crowd. The use of such weapons has been a subject of debate in India, with concerns raised about their impact on protesters.

The CRPF has not issued a public statement beyond its RTI reply. The matter is now expected to be raised before the Supreme Court for legal scrutiny.