Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday staged a sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in New Delhi while accompanying a student who was injured during pellet gun firing during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Gandhi demanded that Delhi Police register an FIR in the case and take appropriate action.

After his sit-in, a complaint was filed by the injured student with regard to pellet gun firing. New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma interacted with Gandhi at the police station, as per reports. 

Complaint to be sent to Crime Branch

Sources privy to the development said the complaint would be forwarded to the city’s Crime branch, which is probing cases registered in connection with the July 20 protest. Police said further legal action shall be taken on the basis of the findings of the probe and in accordance with the law. 

Gandhi also launched a verbal attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged use of pellet guns during the student protest, accusing him of being ‘scared of justice.’ He uploaded a post on ‘X,’ in which he demanded an FIR and a judicial probe, while vowing action against the ones found responsible for what he termed ‘alleged police brutality.’ 

As per sources, Gandhi initially visited Mandir Marg police station, where cops allegedly refused to register the complaint. Subsequently, he went to the DCP office and decided to remain there until the complaint was filed. 

Congress alleges inaction by police

Furthermore, the Congress claimed that the injured student, Sahil Lochav, accompanied by his lawyers, had approached Delhi Police on August 14 with a written complaint. It alleged that police neither provided the investigating officer’s contact number nor acknowledged the complaint. 

It went on to allege that the complaint was pursued again on August 17 by means of email and telephone, but the student allegedly did not receive the details of the investigating officer or an acknowledgment. 

Congress added that Gandhi accompanied Lochav to press for registration of an FIR, alleging that the police were yet to provide the case officer’s details. 

Amit Shah under attack by Congress

The Congress further alleged that Home Minister Shah had directed authorities to use pellet guns against demonstrators during the July 20 protest. The party posted a statement on ‘X,’ which read, “Amit Shah ordered the use of pellet guns on the country's children.”

It mounted its attack on the Home Minister, alleging that Lochav and his mother repeatedly approached the police, requesting that an FIR be registered, but their requests were ignored. 

In another post, the party said Minister Shah and Delhi Police cannot ‘save the culprits’ and reiterated its demand for an FIR.

4 protesters reportedly injured

As per reports, Rapid Action Force personnel fired five rounds from pellet guns during the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest march towards Parliament on July 20. Four protesters were reportedly injured by pellets during the incident, adding to the controversy surrounding the police response to the demonstration.

The allegations of excessive force and the demand for a judicial inquiry have intensified the political confrontation, with the Congress pressing for accountability over the reported injuries.