New Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR following a complaint by 19-year-old student protester Sahil Lochab, who alleged that he sustained pellet-gun injuries during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar. The FIR was registered after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staged a more than six-hour dharna at the Parliament Street Police Station, demanding that the complaint be formally registered and investigated. Gandhi was accompanied by Lochab, who displayed the FIR copy with him after the police action.
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Lochab has alleged that he was injured during the July 20 protest and suffered serious pellet-related injuries, including damage to his eye. Reports said medical examinations found more than 200 pellet fragments in his body. He later underwent treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Gandhi had accused the authorities of failing to register the complaint despite repeated requests and demanded accountability for those responsible. Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge and Jairam Ramesh, backed the protest.
The police station witnessed heightened security during the demonstration, with additional personnel and Rapid Action Force units deployed in the area. The BJP criticised Gandhi’s protest, accusing him of politicising the issue and questioning the manner in which the demand was pursued. With the FIR now registered, the case is expected to focus on establishing how Lochab sustained the injuries, identifying those responsible and determining whether pellet guns were used during the July 20 demonstration. Delhi Police have previously disputed allegations concerning pellet-gun firing, making the investigation significant for establishing the facts.
