A protest over the alleged use of a pellet gun during a student demonstration has intensified in Delhi after Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi joined an injured student in a dharna outside the Parliament Street police station on Friday.
Gandhi accompanied Sahil Lochab, who claims he suffered a serious eye injury during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” protest. The Congress has alleged that despite Lochab submitting a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14, an FIR has not been registered.
According to the Congress, Lochab also approached the police several times after submitting his complaint but was allegedly not provided an investigating officer number.
Rahul Gandhi joins student’s protest
Gandhi reached the DCP office at Parliament Street police station on August 21 and sat in protest alongside Lochab. The demand from the protesters is straightforward: registration of an FIR and appointment of an investigating officer to examine the allegations.
Visuals from the location showed Gandhi sitting with Lochab outside the police office as the protest continued.
The Congress has accused Delhi Police of failing to act on the student’s complaint and has demanded that the matter be formally investigated.
What happened to Sahil Lochab?
Lochab was reportedly among students who sustained injuries during the July 20 demonstration over alleged examination paper leaks.
The Congress has claimed that Lochab suffered a serious injury to his eye after allegedly being hit by a pellet. The party has further claimed that his chances of recovering his eyesight are low.
However, the allegation about the use of pellet guns remains disputed. Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest.
Congress alleges police inaction
The Congress has claimed that Lochab’s written complaint was submitted on August 14, but the police have not registered an FIR despite follow-up attempts.
The party has described the alleged delay as a “denial of justice” and said the protest would continue until the FIR is registered.
The allegations made by the Congress and Lochab have not, by themselves, established that Delhi Police used a pellet gun. The matter remains disputed and requires investigation.
Why is the issue important?
The controversy has now moved beyond the alleged injury and into a larger political confrontation over how the police handled the student’s complaint.
Rahul Gandhi’s decision to sit alongside Lochab has given the issue a fresh political spotlight, while the Congress is demanding a formal investigation into both the alleged firing and the subsequent handling of the complaint.
