FIR for pellet injury during July 20 stir filed after Rahul Gandhi protests for over 6 hours

Police on Friday lodged a first information report (FIR) against unknown people on a complaint by a Delhi University student with pellet injuries during the July 20 protests, after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accompanied the 19-year-old and sat in protest outside a police station for more than six hours.

Gandhi’s dramatic stir outside the Parliament Street Police Station turned into a major political controversy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacking him for what it called “attention-seeking politics”.

“Sahil’s FIR has been registered. This is the first step towards justice. But think about it - even permission to file an FIR had to come from the home ministry. Now it’s clear who has been holding the reins on justice,” Gandhi said outside the station after the FIR was filed at 7pm.

Delhi University student files first pellet gun injury FIR

Sahil Lochab, a Delhi University’s school of open learning student, said that for the past eight days, he visited the Connaught Place, Sansad Marg and Mandir Marg police station and the crime branch office to register an FIR, but everyone rejected him. “I was then helped by Gandhi …I hoped that if he comes, my case will be heard. I’m the eldest son and these injuries have affected my future career goals and my studies.”

By 12.30 pm, paramilitary forces were deployed and the gate of the station was closed to restrict the entry of more protesters.

Sharma initially told HT that he received the complaint and the matter will be looked into. He also said that all cases of violence and conspiracy during the Jantar Mantar stir were with the crime branch.

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By 12.30-1 pm, police barricaded Tolstoy Marg and Sansad Marg due to the swelling crowds.

Between 12.30pm and 6.30 pm, meetings took place between joint commissioner of police (New Delhi) Nupur Prasad, Sharma, Lochab and Gandhi.

Around 6 pm, the FIR was finally lodged.

Student recalls July 20 police excesses

“On July 20, I joined the Jantar Mantar protest which was against the paper leak... I’m a student and I participated in the protest against the NEET paper leak and Delhi Police recruitment exam cheating. During the afternoon, there was a lathicharge and stampede-like situation. I, along with other youngsters, started running towards the Palika Bazar area. I had the national flag. There, police started lathicharge and threw tear gas shells causing the same stampede-like situation. All of a sudden, I felt something explode on the right side of my face, eye and chest. I turned around and saw a personnel in blue uniform with a big rifle. Because of him, I suffered many pellet injuries. I was shot 5-6 times with pellets. There was blood all over my eye, face, chest and hand. Someone made me sit on a bike and took me to LHMC. They sent me to Safdarjung who then referred me to AIIMS,” Lochab said in the FIR.

“On July 22, I underwent the first surgery for my eye. Doctors mentioned in my MLC about the pellet wounds... during my CT scan, I found I had suffered 200 pellets on my body including my eye, neck, chest, jaw and hand. The pellets were in my right eye and couldn’t be taken out. They will be in my eye lifelong. Doctors said pellets are also lodged near my heart and the treatment will go on for long,” he said.

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On August 1, Lochab said had his second eye surgery on his right eye. “My only fault is that I’m a student and I was standing there peacefully and trying to voice my opinions. Because of this, I’ve lost my eye and my body is now filled with pellet wounds. I worked hard to get into the police force but I’ll never get that job now. I want the police to preserve CCTV and drone footage.”