10 faced pellet gun injuries during CJP stir: TMC ex-MP cites RTI

At least 10 persons suffered pellet gun injuries during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ March called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 20 in the national capital, former TMC MP Saket Gokhale cited an RTI reply.As per the RTI reply, nine patients with pellet injuries were brought to Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Hospitals while one was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.

Quoting the RTI, the MP alleged that records from All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital were awaited.

The response stated that at Lady Hardinge Medical College, 81 persons, including 46 protestors and 35 police personnel, were brought for treatment on July 20. Of these, 14 reported head and facial injuries, and five suffered fractures. “The institutional disaster management plan was activated and all stakeholders were mobilised as per the incident command system. MOM regarding disaster plan activation is attached for reference. 35 treated and 35 MCs made,” the medical college responded to the RTI.

Similarly, the reply from Safdarjung Hospital also mentioned the admission of one patient with pellet injury.

Citing the RTI, the MP posted on X, “Until now, there were reports of five people with pellet gun injuries during the Jantar Mantar protests on 20 July 20, However, records procured from hospitals show that the confirmed number is at least double.”

As earlier reported by The Tribune, contrary to the Delhi Police’s stand of not using pellet guns, a general diary entry at the Parliament Street police station had revealed that a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer ordered Rapid Action Force personnel to fire pellet guns at students during their July 20 march to Parliament.

“In order to control the crowd at the Cockroach Janta Party protest, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired 55 rounds of non-electrical shells, 15 rounds of electrical shells, five tear gas grenades, two rounds from anti-riot guns and two rounds of plastic pellets on July 20,” mentions the entry recorded at 1.24 pm on July 22.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had earlier presented before the media a student who had allegedly lost vision in one eye after being hit by a pellet during the July 20 protest march.