Political Escalation in Delhi Over Pellet Gun Complaint; Rahul...
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a high-profile sit-in outside Delhi's Parliament Street Police Station alongside 19-year-old protester Sahil...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
A intense political confrontation erupted in the national capital on August 21, 2026, as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, staged an unannounced sit-in (dharna) outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi. Accompanied by 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab, a resident of Najafgarh who suffered severe facial and ocular injuries from alleged pellet gun firings during the youth-led protest near Jantar Mantar on July 20, Gandhi demanded the immediate registration of an official First Information Report (FIR) against responsible security personnel. Addressing reporters outside the police station premises, Gandhi alleged that police officials refused to file the complaint, citing "orders from the top," and asserted that the opposition would remain at the spot until justice was guaranteed for the injured youth.
The political row stems from the police response to a massive youth demonstration held on July 20, where thousands of students assembled near central Delhi demanding educational reforms and competitive exam integrity. During the security pushback near Palika Bazar and Jantar Mantar, Sahil Lochab sustained multiple pellet wounds, including a critical injury to his right eye that required emergency surgical intervention at AIIMS Trauma Centre. Accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership of suppressing democratic student demonstrations through unprovoked force, opposition leaders claimed that metallic pellets pierced Sahil's eye, face, chest, and internal organs. The Congress party emphasized that denying a formal police complaint violates statutory rights and shields errant security personnel from legal accountability.
Administrative Counter-Response, Law Enforcement Investigation, and Political Debate
Responding to the allegations, Delhi Police officials rejected claims of an intentional delay or refusal to accept complaints. Police authorities stated that Sahil's written complaint was formally received and forwarded to the Crime Branch, which is currently managing a consolidated probe into all incidents and FIRs registered regarding the July 20 demonstration.
Law enforcement agencies reiterated their stance, stating that Delhi Police personnel do not carry or deploy pellet guns, while central paramilitary units such as the Rapid Action Force (RAF) initiated internal verification procedures into the incident. Meanwhile, ruling coalition leaders criticized the opposition's sit-in as a political spectacle designed to obstruct ongoing institutional investigations. As legal counsel for the victim demands transparent documentation and an independent judicial audit, the standoff has reignited a broader national debate over public safety regulations, crowd control protocols, and constitutional guarantees for peaceful assemblies.