Rahul Gandhi Stages Sit-in to Demand FIR Against Security Personnel Who Fired Pellet Guns During Protest

Rahul Gandhi , the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha , reached a police station with a 19-year-old on Friday to register a complaint against security personnel who allegedly fired pellet guns during the July 20 protest march to Parliament. Later, he staged a dharna outside the office of DCP, New Delhi, alleging that the police had refused to file an FIR. Soon after, his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined him at the sit-in. Congress leaders, including senior leaders Jairam Ramesh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Kumari Selja, and a large group of party workers also reached the DCP office. According to police sources, Rahul Gandhi has been asked to end the sit-in. Personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have now gathered outside the DCP office. Gandhi accompanied Sahil Lochab, who suffered a pellet injury during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march to demand former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan ’s resignation. They first went to the Mandir Marg police station, and then to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Delhi, at Parliament Street. “Rahul Gandhi first went to Mandir Marg police station. Because the case was not registered there, he went to meet DCP (Central). He will not return till the case is registered,” said a Congress leader. Lochab submitted a written complaint to the Delhi Police on August 14, but the police refused to provide details of the Investigating Officer, the Congress leader said. “He (Lochab) pursued (the case) on 17th (August) with email and phone. Again, no details of the Investigating Officer were given. No acknowledgement was also given,” the Congress leader said. He added that Gandhi accompanied Lochab to help him. “As it’s a cognisable offence, an FIR also has to be registered, but Delhi police is not doing so,” the leader said. Lochab, a 19-year-old Najafgarh resident, suffered a pellet injury in his right eye during the July 20 march. He underwent a surgery, but a shrapnel is still lodged inside. The use of pellet guns during the march of Parliament on July 20 has come under scrutiny. Earlier, The Indian Express reported that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had found that a Rapid Action Force (personnel) fired seven shots from a pellet gun and five of them hit protesters. The Opposition, led by Gandhi, has been targeting the government, especially Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on the alleged excesses during the crackdown on the march against paper leaks. This issue paralysed the Monsoon Session of Parliament, as Gandhi demanded the resignation of Shah, who is in charge of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces. Speaking to reporters, Gandhi alleged that police officers had told him about “an order from higher-ups to not lodge an FIR”. “We want an FIR. A young boy from India is hurt and his mother is standing here… Till there is an FIR, we will not move from here. Such atrocities are committed against the poor, women who are raped… We are being told that in India, a youngster can be shot at. In this country, the Home Ministry of Amit Shah will not let justice happen,” said Gandhi. “On July 20, pellet guns were used at Connaught Place. What is the proof of that? It is this,” said Gandhi as he showed a small box which apparently had pellets in it. “Where did they come from? They came from his body,” he said, asking the youngster to show his injuries. “He won’t be able to see with one eye. There are pellets very close to his heart. Delhi Police has said that they didn’t use pellet guns. Then there is one question. Who used these pellets? Maybe someone else fired pellets and if not someone else, then he himself may have fired pellets. Because there are pellets in his body,” said Gandhi. He added that Lochab’s lawyer has been running from pillar to post to get an FIR registered. On July 20, I was fired at with a pellet gun. I was admitted to the Lady Hardinge hospital and then referred to AIIMS, where I underwent two surgeries. Even now, I cannot see clearly. I submitted a seven-page complaint through my lawyer, but an FIR has not been registered,” Sahil Lochab told media persons. Responding to Gandhi’s sit-in, veteran BJP leader told the media, “ It is very unfortunate that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi resorts to politics of anarchy. Currently, he is sitting on dharna at Parliament Street police station without permission or prior information. The police have informed him that an FIR has already been registered on the incident he is citing and it is being probed. The Supreme Court has formed a high-powered committee to probe this. Rahul Gandhi, don’t you want to respect any law? We suspect and allege that Congress is now stuck due to its stance on the national song, Vande Mataram. We condemn what the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress is doing right now.”