RTI data shows 10 pellet injuries during July 20 Parliament march
At least 10 people were injured by pellets during the march to Parliament on July 20, according to Right to Information (RTI) responses from two Delhi hospitals. The responses were obtained by All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale.
Lady Hardinge Medical College stated in its RTI response that nine people were injured by pellets. Hospital sources confirmed the authenticity of the response. Safdarjung Hospital, in its response, said one person was injured by pellets.
The Delhi Police initially denied the use of pellet guns during the protest. However, a general diary entry filed at the Parliament Street police station on July 22 said that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun.
Among those injured by pellets were 25-year-old artist Prashant Kumar Singh, 25-year-old Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab, and a journalist. A 32-year-old woman, Nutan, was injured by a “blunt weapon” as per her medical reports.
Mr. Gokhale, in a post on X on Monday (August 10, 2026), shared photos of the RTI responses. He wrote, “Until now, there were reports of 5 people with pellet gun injuries during the Jantar Mantar protests on 20th July. However, records procured from hospitals show that the confirmed number is at least double i.e. 10 persons.”
He added that records are still awaited from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital.
“Pellet guns were used on unarmed protestors in the heart of the CAPITAL CITY OF INDIA and the govt & police are still hiding the details. Why hasn’t the Modi Govt released a confirmed number for pellet gun victims?” the TMC spokesperson asked.
The RTI responses also provided broader figures. Lady Hardinge Medical College reported that 81 people were brought in following the march, including 46 protesters and 35 police officers. Safdarjung Hospital’s response said 25 police personnel and four protesters were brought in for treatment.
The July 20 march to Parliament was part of larger protests against recent legislative changes. The use of pellet guns, which can cause severe injuries, has been a point of controversy in India. The central government has not yet issued an official statement on the RTI findings, and the Delhi Police have not commented further on the general diary entry.
The information obtained by Mr. Gokhale highlights the discrepancy between initial claims and hospital records. As more RTI responses are awaited from other hospitals, the confirmed number of pellet injuries may rise further.
