A political confrontation in Delhi intensified on Friday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a prolonged sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station, demanding an FIR over alleged pellet-gun injuries suffered by a young protester during a July demonstration.
The protest ended after the Delhi Police registered an FIR on the complaint of 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who has alleged that he was injured by pellets during a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Rahul Gandhi had accompanied Lochab to the police station and insisted that the complaint be formally registered.
Rahul Gandhi Takes Protest to Police Station
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, arrived at the Parliament Street Police Station along with Lochab and other Congress leaders. After meeting police officials, he began a dharna when the FIR was not immediately registered.
The protest continued for more than six hours, drawing Congress leaders and supporters to the location. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also among those who joined the protest. Security arrangements were strengthened around the police station, with additional police and Rapid Action Force personnel deployed in the area.
Gandhi argued that the alleged injuries suffered by Lochab could not be ignored and demanded accountability from those responsible. He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported use of pellet guns during the July protest.
Who Is Sahil Lochab?
Sahil Lochab, 19, is at the centre of the controversy. He reportedly suffered pellet injuries during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
According to reports, Lochab sustained serious injuries, including damage around his eye, and underwent treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Rahul Gandhi has highlighted the extent of his injuries while demanding that the authorities investigate how the pellets were fired and identify those responsible.
The allegations have become particularly contentious because questions remain over who fired the pellets and under what circumstances.
FIR Finally Registered
The standoff between Gandhi and the police ended after Delhi Police registered an FIR concerning Lochab’s complaint.
According to officials cited by The New Indian Express, the case was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons or means, along with a provision concerning acts endangering life or personal safety.
After learning that the FIR had been registered, Gandhi ended his sit-in. He described the police action as an important first step towards securing justice for the injured student.
The registration of the case now shifts the focus towards the investigation, which will have to establish what happened during the July protest and determine responsibility, if any.
Dispute Over Pellet Gun Use
The larger controversy stems from allegations that pellet guns were used during the July 20 protest.
The Delhi Police and authorities have denied allegations that their personnel used pellet guns during the protest. At the same time, several protesters have reported pellet-related injuries, creating a dispute over what happened during the clashes.
The issue has therefore moved beyond a single complaint. It has become part of a wider debate over crowd-control methods, the use of force during demonstrations and accountability when protesters suffer serious injuries.
An investigation will now be crucial in determining whether the allegations can be substantiated and who was responsible for the injuries.
BJP Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi’s protest also triggered a sharp political response from the BJP.
BJP leaders questioned the need for Gandhi to stage a dharna at a police station and accused him of turning the matter into a political confrontation. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad argued that the incident was already subject to investigation and said Gandhi should respect the established legal process.
The BJP has also pointed to a broader inquiry into the July incident, arguing that the facts should emerge through investigation rather than political pressure.
Congress leaders, however, maintained that the immediate issue was the alleged failure to register Lochab’s complaint and that the injured student deserved a proper investigation.
Political Battle Escalates
The episode has added another flashpoint between the Congress and BJP.
For the Congress, the case has become an issue of accountability and alleged excessive use of force against protesters. Gandhi has repeatedly demanded answers over the injuries and has questioned the authorities’ handling of the complaint.
The BJP, on the other hand, has accused the Congress leader of using the incident for political purposes and has argued that investigative agencies and the legal system should be allowed to determine the facts.
The presence of senior Congress leaders at the police station and the deployment of security forces further underlined the tension surrounding the protest.
What Happens Now?
With an FIR now registered, the next stage will be the investigation into Lochab’s allegations. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances of the July 20 protest, the reported injuries and the evidence available in the case.
The FIR does not by itself establish who was responsible for the injuries. That will depend on the findings of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
For Rahul Gandhi, the end of the dharna marks the fulfilment of his immediate demand for registration of the case. For the Delhi Police, the FIR places the alleged pellet injuries within a formal investigative process.
The political controversy, however, is unlikely to disappear immediately. Questions over the alleged use of pellet guns, the treatment of protesters and accountability for injuries are expected to remain a major talking point.
What began as a complaint by an injured young protester has now become a larger political and legal issue, with the investigation set to determine what actually happened during the July 20 demonstration.
See more: Arjun Bijlani
