Rahul Gandhi presents injured student protester, demands action over alleged pellet gun use
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday brought student protester Sahil before the media, alleging that the youngster suffered a serious eye injury after being hit by a pellet during the July 20 student protest in Delhi. The claim has triggered a political controversy, with Gandhi demanding action against those responsible while Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the demonstration.
Standing alongside Sahil outside Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath, Rahul Gandhi showed the student’s injury and accused the government of ignoring the concerns of young protesters.
"I want to explain that my brother standing here was injured by a pellet gun while he was peacefully protesting, holding the Tricolour. The govt has said that no pellet gun was used," Gandhi said.
The Congress leader alleged that Sahil’s eye was damaged and said there was uncertainty over whether his vision could be restored.
"This is the future of our country. This has happened to thousands of youth, they have been shot at with pellet guns and have been beaten up in lathi-charge. What are they doing? They are doing peaceful protests," Gandhi said.
Who is Sahil and what happened to him?
Sahil is a student and police recruitment aspirant who participated in the July 20 protest. According to details shared by Gandhi, Sahil had appeared for a police recruitment examination but the question paper was leaked
Gandhi said Sahil’s family had supported his preparation through their earnings.
"His mother and father from their hard-earned money had got him this opportunity. The government must stop lying. The government has attacked our future," Gandhi said.
Sahil, whose right eye was allegedly injured during the protest, has undergone one surgery to treat the injury and remove pellets. He was first taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College, later shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, and then moved to the AIIMS Trauma Centre on July 21.
Speaking about the incident, Sahil said he wanted justice. "I demand justice," he said.
Rahul Gandhi demands action against officials, targets education minister
The Congress leader linked Sahil’s injury to broader concerns raised by students over examination systems and recruitment issues.
Gandhi demanded action against those who allegedly fired at protesters and those involved in the baton charge.
"Stop assaulting and threatening our students," he said.
He also targeted Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of failing to address problems in the education system.
"Dharmendra Pradhan is a criminal education minister. He is a symbol of the collapse of India's education system. He has to go," Gandhi alleged.
The government has not accepted Gandhi’s allegations.
Delhi Police denies pellet gun use
The central point of the controversy is whether pellet guns were used during the protest.
Delhi Police has denied that its personnel fired pellet guns at protesters during the march.
The CRPF, whose Rapid Action Force personnel were also deployed during the protest, has not responded to questions regarding the alleged use of pellet guns.
With no official confirmation of pellet gun deployment from security forces, the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s injury remain disputed.
Why the alleged pellet injury has intensified the row
Pellet guns have previously been used during periods of unrest in Jammu and Kashmir to curb the violence that erupted in 2010 but were discontinued by the then state government. In July 2016, they were used again when protestors went on a rampage following the death of banned Hizbul Mujahideen's poster boy Burhan Wani.
What is a pellet gun?
A pellet gun is a crowd-control weapon that fires cartridges containing hundreds of small metal or rubber pellets. When fired, the cartridge bursts open, dispersing the pellets over a wide area at high speed rather than striking a single target.
With PTI inputs