Rahul Gandhi holds dharna at Delhi police station, seeks FIR for pellet-hit youth

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi, demanding the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries sustained by a 19-year-old youth during a protest on July 20. The protest was led by the Centre for Justice and Peace (CJP).

Mr. Gandhi, accompanied by the injured youth, Sahil Lochab, first approached the Mandir Marg police station to lodge the complaint. When his request was turned down, he proceeded to the Parliament Street police station, where he met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma. After discussions failed to yield any outcome, the Congress leader sat on a dharna at the police station, which also houses the DCP's office.

Speaking to reporters during the protest, Mr. Gandhi said the use of pellet guns against a peaceful demonstration was a 'serious crime' and an act of 'brutality'. He asserted that neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi had offered an explanation or apologised for the incident.

Sahil Lochab, a resident of the national capital, is feared to lose vision in his right eye due to the pellet injury, according to his family. The incident occurred during a protest organised by the CJP, which has been demanding action against alleged human rights violations. The use of pellet guns by security forces has been a contentious issue, with critics pointing to the severe injuries they can cause.

The Congress party has consistently raised questions about the handling of protests and the employment of non-lethal weapons that can nonetheless cause permanent damage. Mr. Gandhi's dharna underscores the opposition's push for accountability and legal recourse for those affected by such measures.

As of Friday evening, no FIR had been registered, and senior police officials remained unavailable for comment on the matter. The Delhi Police has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the allegations raised by the Congress leader.

This incident adds to the ongoing political friction between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led government and the opposition, with civil liberties groups also calling for a thorough inquiry into the use of pellet guns in densely populated urban areas. The issue is expected to be raised in the upcoming parliamentary session, with Mr. Gandhi likely to press for a detailed response from the central government.