Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticized the government, alleging the use of pellet guns on protesting students in Delhi.
In an attempt to support his claim, Gandhi paraded before the public a student who was said to have suffered an eye injury.
While speaking to the media on Friday, Rahul said pellet guns were used while the student was protesting while carrying the Indian tricolour flag, and claimed that the youth who was allegedly injured lost sight in one eye.
“You are saying that pellet guns were used. But I want to explain when was the pellet gun used? The pellet gun was used when my brother was carrying the Indian tricolour. He was protesting peacefully using the Indian tricolour. The government said no pellet gun was used. Didn’t they say that? See this, this is a pellet gun… His eye was damaged, he lost his sight,” Rahul said, while showing the wounds on the young man’s body.
He said the government had “attacked the future” of the country, alleging that pellet guns and “lathes” were being used against thousands of youth who were protesting, ANI reported.
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“Young people worked hard for the police recruitment exam, but the paper was leaked.”
The congressman claimed that the young man was protesting peacefully because he was preparing for police recruitment exams, but the paper was leaked.
“What is he doing? – Protesting peacefully because his paper was leaked. He took a test for police recruitment, worked hard, and then one day he was told that the paper was leaked,” Rahul was quoted as saying by PTI.
He claimed that thousands of young people had suffered the same fate, saying their parents had “worked hard to give them this opportunity”. The Lok Sabha LoP reiterated the demands of students and youth.
“They have only three demands. First – the education minister because of whom this happened should be sacked, second – those who used balls and lathes in our future should face legal action, and third – Narendra Modi ji, who is running the system, should apologize to the youth,” Rahul told reporters.
Thousands of students took part in a protest march to Parliament on Monday over alleged NEET irregularities, during which security personnel deployed tear gas shells and lathi charge. In a later statement, Delhi Police claimed the crowd was “unruly” and “repeatedly ignored warnings.” Students and youth have been protesting in Jantar Mantar for more than a month.
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Medical reports for the demonstrators show injuries; CRPF, police are silent
While medical reports for some protesters indicate pellet wounds, Delhi Police has officially denied using pellets or rubber guns. However, a senior police official said: “The RAF has riot gear including a small pistol. They may have carried it during the protest but we cannot comment on the CRPF and its weapons.”
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – of which the Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a part – declined to comment. A senior CRPF official, requesting anonymity, said: “The Royal Air Force is mandated to carry anti-riot equipment which includes pellet guns. They may have used it for crowd control.”
HT has seen the medicolegal case (MLC) report of Nutan Toppo, a 32-year-old woman from Gurugram, and a 28-year-old reporter who sustained injuries during the protest.
Toppo’s MLC – issued by Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital – stated that she had suffered a “suspected gunshot wound”, while the MLC’s letter to the reporter – issued by Safdarjung Hospital – showed injuries on the man’s waist and hands and described them as “signs of bullet injury”.
