Pellet guns, shock batons used against protesters in Delhi; police deny
Protesters in Delhi reported injuries from pellet guns and shock batons during a demonstration against the Union Education Minister. While police have officially denied the use of these specific crowd-control weapons, eyewitness accounts and video evidence have sparked controversy.
Why it matters
The report highlights potential escalation in police tactics against civil protests in India, raising concerns about human rights and state accountability.
At least one of the 80 protesters injured in police action during the Monday (July 20, 2026) march to Parliament called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sustained pellet gun injuries, according to a source at Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is undergoing treatment.
A friend of Shaikh Irshad Mansoori (25), the protester, told The Hindu that Mr. Mansoori was hit near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place by a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan in uniform.
This appears to be the first known instance of security forces using pellet guns on civilians in Delhi. A video of a woman being stunned by a shock baton also emerged on Tuesday (July 21). This is also the first known case of shock batons, which emanate mild electric shock, being used in Delhi.
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