Police records reveal RAF fired plastic pellets during CJP protest:Delhi Police denies use against peaceful protesters; Oppn seeks Amit Shah’s statement

An official police record has revealed that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired multiple rounds of non-lethal munitions, including two rounds of plastic pellets, while dispersing protesters during the July 20 Sansad Chalo march over the NEET issue near Jantar Mantar, according to news agency PTI. Officials said on Monday that the details are contained in a general diary entry made at the Parliament Street police station on July 22 at 1:24 PM. The entry was recorded on the information provided by a Deputy Commandant of the RAF. According to officials, the record states that RAF personnel, dressed in their characteristic blue dungarees, were deployed in Zone 1 of the Jantar Mantar area alongside a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer of the Delhi Police during the protest. Crowd-control measures recorded Quoting the police station record, officials said that, on the directions of the DCP, the RAF used a range of non-lethal crowd-control measures on July 20. These included firing 55 non-electrical shells, 15 electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, two rounds from anti-riot guns, and two rounds of plastic pellets. Officials clarified that each round of the non-lethal plastic pellets contains four pieces and differs from metal pellets that can pierce the body. They said the plastic pellets do not cause significant harm. Political row over use of pellets The reported use of force, particularly plastic pellets, has emerged as another major flashpoint, with the Opposition targeting the government and demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament. There have been two or three reports of protesters sustaining grievous pellet injuries during the march, which was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG question paper leak. Pradhan resigned on Saturday, following which the month-long CJP protest was called off. Police reject allegations The Delhi Police has maintained on record that allegations regarding the use of pellets against “peaceful protestors” are “completely false and misleading”. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the RAF have not commented on the issue so far. However, CRPF Director General (DG) G P Singh said the force would carry out its routine review now that the agitation had ended. “Now, since agitation has been called off, and assembled people have dispersed, we would make a professional post-event assessment, like we do after every major assignment, and then let you know the view of the Force Hq (headquarters),” Singh said. Officials added that multiple personnel from the Delhi Police, the RAF and the CRPF were also injured during the protests.