Reports Emerge Alleging Delhi Police Used Pellet Weapons Against Students During Protests; Home Ministry Faces Questions

NEW DELHI, Jun 23: A fourth person who attended youth protests in New Delhi on July 20 has been reported to have suffered pellet-like injuries, with doctors warning that he may lose vision in one eye.

Sahil Lochab, 19, a student at Delhi University’s School of Open Learning, underwent surgery on July 21 at the AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre after suffering an injury to his right eye, according to reports.

Doctors have reportedly told his family that there is only a 1% chance of his eyesight returning in the affected eye.

19-year-old Sahil Lochab after his injury.

Lochab’s family said he attended the protest because he believed it was important for his future and education. His mother, Jyoti, questioned the reported use of pellet-firing weapons against young protesters and called for accountability over who fired them.

“Sahil said he was hit directly in his eye,” his childhood friend Parvesh was quoted as saying, adding that a further medical procedure would determine whether his vision could be restored.

Lochab was initially taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College before being shifted to AIIMS for further treatment.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged of other protesters and a journalist suffering injuries consistent with pellet impacts during the demonstration near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place.

One protester, Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, reportedly underwent surgery to remove pellet-like objects from his body. Video footage reviewed by media outlets allegedly showed a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel firing a weapon at the location where he was injured.

A journalist from Outlook magazine also reported suffering injuries from what appeared to be pellet-type ammunition during the same protest. Medical records reportedly documented multiple puncture wounds on the journalist’s arm.

Experts cited in reports said the weapons seen in footage involving RAF personnel appeared to be 12-bore pump-action rifles, which can fire multiple small pellets instead of a single projectile.

The Delhi Police has denied allegations of pellet gun use by its personnel during the protest, while questions have also been raised over the involvement of the Rapid Action Force, a unit under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Authorities have not yet provided a detailed response to the allegations.

Investigations into the reported use of pellet-type weapons during the protest are continuing.