Pellet Guns and Shock Batons Reportedly Used at Delhi Protest; Police Deny Claims

At least one protester was injured by pellet gun fire during a march to Parliament organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday, according to a source at Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is being treated. The incident marks a rare use of such weapons against civilians in Delhi.

Shaikh Irshad Mansoori (25) was hit near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place by a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan, a friend told The Hindu. A video also emerged showing a woman being stunned by a shock baton. Both pellet guns and shock batons are part of the RAF's anti-riot gear, deployed alongside Delhi Police during the protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

While the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) declined to comment, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) dismissed the claims as “completely false and misleading”, advising the public not to share unverified content. However, hospital sources confirmed that Mansoori underwent surgery to remove pellets from his upper body, with one lodged near a blood vessel requiring further surgery. Another protester with an eye injury was shifted to AIIMS. By Tuesday evening, the number of injured rose to 83, including both civilians and police officers.

Pellet guns were previously used during the 2024 farmers' protest at the Punjab-Haryana border, as well as in Manipur in 2023 and Jammu & Kashmir in 2016, where they caused severe injuries and blindness. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited Mansoori in hospital on Tuesday. Mansoori, a private company employee from Jabalpur, told the minister he was protesting due to “issues in the education system”.

A 21-year-old woman, Sakshi, was also admitted in critical condition to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital's intensive care unit.