Gandhi sits in protest over pellet victim's FIR refusal

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in protest outside a Delhi police station on Friday, August 21, 2026, after authorities allegedly refused to register a complaint regarding a student's pellet gun injury during a protest march last month. Gandhi accompanied Sahil Lochav, a 19-year-old who says he was injured in his right eye during the July 20 demonstration, to the Parliament Street Police Station to press for the filing of a First Information Report.

The incident stems from a protest march on July 20, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, where students demanded the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Violence reportedly broke out during the march, and Lochav alleges he was struck by a pellet fired by security personnel. He underwent surgery, but a pellet fragment remains lodged in his eye.

According to statements from the Congress party and Gandhi's office, Lochav and his lawyers first submitted a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14. They followed up via email and phone on August 17, but were not provided with an Investigating Officer number or any formal acknowledgement....