July 20 protest: RAF used tear gas, anti-riot guns and plastic pellets
Official records confirm that the Rapid Action Force used non-lethal plastic pellets and tear gas during a July 20 protest in Delhi regarding the NEET-UG paper leak. This disclosure contradicts earlier police statements claiming such measures were not employed against protesters.
Why it matters
The use of crowd-control munitions against protesters is a sensitive political issue that raises questions about police accountability and civil rights.
NEW DELHI: Rapid Action Force personnel fired two rounds of non-lethal plastic pellets, along with tear smoke grenades and several other crowd-control munitions, during CJP's July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march over the NEET-UG paper leak, news agency PTI reported citing official records.The disclosure comes days after Delhi Police described allegations that pellets had been used against "peaceful protestors" as "completely false and misleading".According to officials, the details of the RAF action were entered in the general diary of Parliament Street police station on July 22, based on information provided by a deputy commandant of the force.The RAF unit was deployed in Zone 1 of the Jantar Mantar area alongside a Delhi Police officer of deputy commissioner of police rank.The police station record states that, acting on the DCP’s directions, RAF personnel fired 55 non-electrical shells, 15 electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, two rounds from anti-riot guns and two rounds…
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in