Rahul Gandhi sits on dharna at Delhi police station, seeks FIR over police action against students

Gandhi has made it clear that he would remain at the police station and continue pressing for registration of the case until his complaint is formally accepted.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sits on a dharna seeking the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest, at Parliament Street police station, in New Delhi. Photo |PTI

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station, seeking registration of FIR over alleged use of excessive force against student protesters during a July 20 demonstration over NEET irregularities, sources said.

Gandhi accompanied Sahil Lochab, a student who suffered a pellet injury on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led march to demand former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Gandhi, who had earlier visited Mandir Marg Police Station, sought registration of a case over the alleged police action, including the reported use of pellet guns against protesters, they said.

After police allegedly declined to register the complaint, the Congress leader proceeded to meet the DCP (Central) and later reached Parliament Street Police Station, where he sat on dharna and demanded to meet senior police officials.

Gandhi has made it clear that he would remain at the police station and continue pressing for registration of the case until his complaint is formally accepted, according to the sources.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, left, interacts with a police official demanding registration of FIR over pellet injuries during Jul 20 protest, at Parliament Street police station, in New Delhi.Photo | PTI

The Congress has claimed that pellet guns were used by RAF personnel during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march after cases of injuries emerged in subsequent days. Although the Delhi Police has repeatedly denied using pellet guns, the CRPF has remained silent on the issue.

However, accounts from injured protesters, medical reports and an investigation by India Today have raised questions about the claim that pellet guns were not used on July 20.

The Congress leader had accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being directly responsible for the alleged use of excessive force against student protesters.

"We hold Amit Shah directly responsible for the violence that has taken place against our students. He authorised the shooting of our students. He authorised the use of lethal weapons, including pellet guns, against our students. For us, this is a fundamental issue. We will not accept our own forces shooting at the future of India," Gandhi had said.

(Within inputs from ANI)