Probe Finds RAF Personnel Fired Seven Pellet Rounds at Parliament Protest
An official investigation revealed that an RAF personnel discharged seven pellet rounds from a pellet gun during a July 20 protest march in Connaught Place, resulting in five protesters being struck.
A Royal Air Force member fired seven rounds from a pellet gun during the Chief Justice of Pakistan's Parliament march, with five rounds striking protesters, according to a probe reported by The Indian Express. The incident occurred amid demonstrations surrounding the CJP's appearance before parliament, though the specific date and circumstances leading to the use of force are not detailed in the available sources. An investigation has been launched into the shooting, which marks a significant escalation in the security response to protests associated with the judicial-parliamentary confrontation.
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) internal review has found that a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed in the Connaught Place area fired at least seven rounds from a pellet gun during the July 20 protest march to Parliament, with five rounds striking protesters and two hitting the ground (Indian Express). The finding emerged after investigators examined log entries maintained by RAF personnel, which recorded that a single individual discharged the seven rounds (Indian Express).
According to a source familiar with the probe, the rounds were fired after protesters attacked security personnel and began pelting stones (Indian Express). The incident occurred amid the "Sansad Chalo" march called by the Opposition INDIA bloc, which had converged on the capital to protest the Supreme Court’s observations on the appointment of Election Commissioners and other issues. The march saw clashes between demonstrators and security forces at multiple points, including Jantar Mantar and the approaches to Parliament.
The internal examination has already prompted a formal corrective response from the force leadership. RAF Inspector General Seema Dhundhia held a video conference on July 22 with company commanders and commandants deployed in Delhi to review the role, deployment, and conduct of personnel during the protest at Jantar Mantar and the Parliament march (Indian Express). During the meeting, Dhundhia was learnt to have told officers that the "force gradient" adopted for crowd control on July 20 was not in accordance with prescribed standards and RAF training (Indian Express). In policing doctrine, a force gradient refers to the calibrated levels of force—ranging from verbal warnings and baton charges to tear gas and, finally, firearms or pellet guns—deployed in proportion to the threat faced.
Officers were instructed that force must be used only to the extent necessary, and in a "judicious, fair, balanced and sensitive manner" (Indian Express). They were further directed that before using force, personnel should issue necessary warnings and follow graded crowd-control measures such as lathicharge, tear smoke, and other approved methods, depending on the situation (Indian Express). A source said a series of corrective measures were laid down for future law and order duties following the review (Indian Express).
When contacted for comment, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh reiterated that the force would conduct a professional post-event assessment now that the agitation has been called off and assembled people have dispersed (Indian Express). Queries sent to RAF Inspector General Seema Dhundhia and the CRPF spokesperson did not elicit a response (Indian Express). The findings of the final assessment, and whether disciplinary action will follow the operational lapses identified in the initial review, remain pending.
Indian Express