Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi on Friday, August 21, alongside 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who alleges he suffered pellet-gun injuries during the July 20 student protest in Delhi. Gandhi demanded that Delhi Police register an FIR based on Lochab’s complaint, arguing that the young protester has a right to have his allegations formally investigated. Gandhi and Lochab had first approached Mandir Marg Police Station but, after the complaint was not registered, proceeded to the Parliament Street police station and met the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the July 20 crackdown and has cited a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Expert Committee examining allegations of excessive and disproportionate use of force. The standoff comes amid continuing political and public scrutiny of the police response to the protest, with medical evidence and accounts of injured protesters adding to questions surrounding the use of force.
FIR Registered After Gandhi’s Sit-In
In a significant development later on Friday, as per sources, Delhi Police registered an FIR on Sahil Lochab’s complaint concerning the alleged pellet injuries he suffered during the July 20 protest. The FIR came after Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station demanding that Lochab’s complaint be formally registered.
The case is expected to be investigated by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, which is already examining complaints related to the July 20 protest. The registration of the FIR, however, does not by itself establish who caused Lochab’s alleged injuries or confirm the use of pellet guns by police personnel; those questions will be determined through the investigation.
Gandhi Demands FIR
According to the Congress, Lochab had submitted a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14 with the help of his lawyers, but was allegedly not provided an acknowledgement or an investigation officer number. The party said the complaint was followed up through email and phone on August 17, but no acknowledgement was received. On Friday, Gandhi accompanied Lochab to the police station to press for the registration of the case. When the FIR was not registered, Gandhi and Lochab sat outside the police station in protest, with Congress workers and supporters also gathering at the site.
“Sahil wants to file FIR, but that is not being allowed. If not Delhi Police, then who? We are only asking for justice for the family,” Gandhi said while addressing the media. The Congress leader also posted that the sit-in would continue until an FIR was registered. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reached the police station, where party workers staged a dharna outside the gates. Delhi Police barricaded the area and closed the police station gates as supporters attempted to enter.
Lochab, who was 19 at the time of the July 20 protest, has alleged that he was hit by pellets while participating in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Reports said he suffered multiple injuries, including serious damage to one eye, and required treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre. Earlier, Gandhi had appeared alongside Lochab at a media briefing and displayed the injuries on the young protester’s body while alleging that security personnel had fired pellet guns at students.
What Happened During The July 20 Protest?
The controversy dates back to July 20, when students and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) attempted to march towards Parliament during a protest over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks. The demonstration, known as ‘Sansad Chalo’, saw a large security deployment and descended into clashes between protesters and security personnel. Several protesters were injured, with allegations subsequently emerging of baton charges, tear gas and pellet-gun use.
Delhi Police has consistently denied using pellet guns during the crackdown. The police and government have also disputed allegations of excessive force. Union Minister Jitendra Singh told Parliament that no bullets were fired and that tear gas was used during the police response, while Gandhi and other Opposition leaders have maintained that the injuries suffered by protesters are evidence that pellet ammunition was used.
Medical reports have added another layer to the dispute. A July 24 report documented at least two hospitalised protesters with injuries doctors described as consistent with pellet wounds, including Lochab and another injured protester, Shaikh Irshad Mansoori. Other reported cases included a journalist. Independent ballistic experts later told the BBC that injuries suffered by some protesters were consistent with pellet-gun fire. However, the government has not officially confirmed that security forces used pellet guns during the protest.
A report published by The New Indian Express also said that a Rapid Action Force personnel allegedly fired seven rounds from a pellet gun during the July 20 protest. The CRPF, under which the RAF operates, reportedly began an internal verification into allegations of excessive force. These reports remain part of the wider dispute over what happened during the crackdown and who was responsible for the injuries.
Panel To Examine Use Of Force
The FIR demand comes as a separate fact-finding process is already examining the events of July 20. Delhi Police told Gandhi that a Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Expert Committee had been constituted to examine allegations of excessive and disproportionate use of force by police and paramilitary personnel during the student protests. The committee is also looking into allegations of violence by protesters.
The issue has remained politically charged since the protest. Gandhi had earlier written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding accountability over the police action and questioning who authorised the alleged use of pellet guns. He argued that peaceful protest is essential to democracy and called for the grievances of students to be addressed through dialogue.
For Lochab, however, the issue is more immediate: he wants his complaint to be formally registered and investigated. The disagreement now centres on whether the FIR should be registered separately while the broader inquiry into the July 20 events continues. The outcome could have implications for how allegations of excessive force during protests are handled and how injured citizens can seek legal remedy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The events surrounding the July 20 protest and Rahul Gandhi’s subsequent sit-in underline the need for accountability without allowing political confrontation to overshadow the experiences of those who were injured. Allegations of pellet-gun use are serious and deserve an impartial, evidence-based investigation, just as allegations of violence by protesters must also be examined fairly.
At the same time, citizens exercising their democratic right to protest should be protected, while law enforcement must use only proportionate measures to maintain public order. Registering and investigating a complaint can help establish facts rather than leaving competing claims to be settled through political rhetoric. Ultimately, transparency, due process and dialogue are essential to rebuilding public trust. Do you think an independent and transparent investigation is the best way to establish what happened during the July 20 protest?
Also Read: Punjab Bandh: Qaumi Insaaf Morcha Protests Disrupt Bus Services, Demand Release of Sikh Prisoners
साहिल की FIR दर्ज न होने देने का एक ही मतलब है –
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2026
नरेंद्र मोदी और अमित शाह के राज में शांतिपूर्ण प्रदर्शन कर रहे युवाओं पर खुलेआम पैलेट गन चलाई जा सकती है, मगर उन्हें इंसाफ नहीं मिल सकता।
जब तक FIR दर्ज नहीं होती, जब तक दोषियों पर कड़ी कार्रवाई का भरोसा नहीं मिलता – हम डटे… pic.twitter.com/iJ6ojC9mmA
