Kathmandu— An investigation by Amnesty International has revealed that Indian government forces used potentially lethal weapons – including pellet-firing shotguns, grenades, batons, and electric shock devices – against student protesters in New Delhi last month. The demonstrations, organized by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), stemmed from a series of examination scandals and calls for the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Over 100 students were injured during the July 20 crackdown, with hospital records confirming cases of pellet wounds, despite government denials of excessive force.

Escalating Protests and Government Response

The protests began as a month-long sit-in by the CJP before escalating into a march on Parliament. The arrest of activist Sonam Wangchuk two days prior to the planned march further fueled public anger and increased participation. On July 20th, police responded to the swelling crowds with tear gas, electric shock batons, and pellet guns, according to Amnesty’s findings based on video evidence, photographic material, and witness testimonies. The government maintained that security forces used measured responses, a claim directly contradicted by the investigation.

Evidence of Pellet Gun Use

Amnesty International's Evidence Lab verified videos showing paramilitary Rapid Action Force officers firing shotguns into crowds at Connaught Place and Parliament Street. At least two protesters sustained injuries consistent with birdshot wounds – small metal pellets fired from hunting rounds, which the group notes are not designed for law enforcement due to their inaccuracy and high risk of widespread injury. One protester told Amnesty, “Thankfully, my bones have been saved, but my body has been scarred badly.” The report highlights that police did not issue warnings before deploying pellet guns, violating Indian government guidelines.

Additional Force Used Against Demonstrators

Beyond pellets and tear gas, the investigation found evidence of police using lathis (batons) to beat protesters. The UN special rapporteur on torture considers these batons inherently cruel due to their potential for causing serious injury. Amnesty also documented instances of men in civilian clothing attacking protesters while uniformed officers stood by without intervening, with several officials failing to display required identification badges. Videos showed tear gas grenades exploding directly at protesters instead of being launched at an angled trajectory, violating UN guidance on less-lethal weapons.

Political Fallout and Ongoing Concerns

The alleged police brutality sparked outrage from opposition parties, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who demanded Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation. Gandhi staged a seven-hour sit-in to pressure the Delhi Police into registering a complaint regarding the use of pellet guns on protesters after Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old protester, lost vision in one eye due to pellet injuries and was initially refused a police report. Lochab’s medical records indicate over 200 pellets remain lodged in his body. Aakar Patel, chair of the board for Amnesty International India, stated, “This heavy-handed response was state-sanctioned violence masked as crowd control.”

Conflicting Accounts and Internal Inquiry

Despite mounting evidence, Delhi Police initially dismissed reports of pellet injuries as “fake news” and threatened legal action against those spreading “rumours”. However, an internal inquiry by India’s paramilitary forces reportedly found that personnel had fired at least seven rounds of ammunition containing metal pellets. Amnesty International asserts the government enforced a communications blackout, erected barricades, and disrupted transportation in an attempt to suppress the protests.

The investigation has renewed calls for accountability and transparency from Indian authorities regarding the use of force against peaceful protesters, with ongoing concerns about potential impunity for alleged abuses.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.