CRPF's RAF probes pellet gun use at Delhi protest

The Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialized anti-riot unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has initiated a verification exercise into allegations that its personnel used disproportionate force, including pellet guns, during student protests in New Delhi on July 20. The move follows widespread circulation of social media videos and reports of injuries among demonstrators.

Officials said on July 24 that the CRPF has directed the RAF's inspector general to reconstruct the sequence of events during the "Chalo Sansad" march, which was organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over an alleged leak of the NEET examination paper. The verification will examine both the force's actions to control the crowd and incidents where RAF personnel were allegedly attacked by protesters. A formal Court of Inquiry has not yet been ordered and will be considered only after this initial fact-finding exercise is complete.

The controversy centers on claims that RAF personnel deployed 12-bore pump-action guns, commonly known as pellet guns, during clashes. Officials confirmed the weapons are part...