Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station in Delhi seeking the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest and said "brutality" against a peaceful protest is a "serious crime".
The Lok Sabha LoP was accompanied by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, who was injured by pellets during a protest on 20 July. Gandhi is demanding that police register a case over Lochab’s injuries.
Gandhi first approached Mandir Marg police station, but after his demand was not accepted, moved to Parliament Street and met DCP (Central) Sachin Sharma. After the meeting failed to resolve the issue, the Congress MP and Lochab began the sit-in. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other party leaders have also joined the protest.
In a post on X in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said, "On July 20, the police attacked Sahil, who was peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar, with a pellet gun. Severely injured by the pellets, Sahil's vision in one eye is now at risk."
"Such brutality against a peaceful protest is not just illegal -- it is a serious crime. Neither has Home Minister Amit Shah offered any explanation to the students for this cruelty, nor has the Prime Minister apologised to them," he said.
Now, when Sahil wants to file an FIR for justice, even that is not being allowed, Gandhi said.
"In this way, the Constitution and constitutional rights are being trampled. @AmitShah ji, why are you so scared of justice? This fear shows that you are admitting to your crime," the Congress leader said.
He asserted that he will ensure justice for Lochab and every other student victim like him. "The FIR will be filed. A judicial inquiry will take place. And action will be taken against everyone -- from top to bottom -- who is guilty of this brutality. We will ensure justice for Sahil, and every student victim like him," Gandhi said.
Rapid Action Force has been deployed in and around the Parliament Street police station, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is sitting on a dharna demanding registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest, police sources said on Friday.
A large number of police and RAF personnel have been deployed around the police station, which also houses the New Delhi DCP's office.
Additional police personnel have been pressed into service in view of Rahul Gandhi's sit-in, the sources said.
Rahul Gandhi said police officials had told him that an FIR could not be registered because of “orders from the top”.
Speaking outside Delhi’s Parliament Street police station, the Congress leader said he would not leave until the FIR was registered. “Our demand is that an FIR be registered and the name of the investigating officer be shared. We are seeking justice for the pellet victim’s family,” he said.
Gandhi also criticised the Delhi Police, which comes under Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ministry, saying a youth could be fired at but the victim was being denied justice.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Parliament Street Police Station, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "Pellet gun was used at Connaught Place on 20th July. AIIMS report clearly says that there are more than 200 shells inside his body and 3 in his eye. He has lost vision in that eye. There are… pic.twitter.com/kH0WGVMuBa
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2026
The Lok Sabha LoP alleged that more than 200 pellet fragments were found in the body of Sahil Lochab, the youth who was injured in the police action against the July 20 protest in Delhi, with three fragments in his eye.
Gandhi said an AIIMS report showed that Lochab had lost vision in the affected eye and that some fragments were lodged near his heart.
He added that Delhi Police had told him they did not fire pellet guns during the protest. “Someone must have done it... A crime has indeed happened,” Gandhi said, demanding that an FIR be registered.
The lawyer for Sahil Lochab, who was injured by pellets during the July 20 protest in Delhi, has alleged that police refused to register a case despite repeated attempts to file a complaint.
Speaking at Parliament Street Police Station, the lawyer said the family first approached Connaught Place police on 14 August but was directed to Parliament Street Police Station as cases related to the Jantar Mantar protest had been transferred there.
She said they were then sent back to Connaught Place because the incident had taken place in that area. After police read the complaint, she alleged, they returned it and kept him waiting for a long time.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Parliament Street Police Station, pellet gun shelling victim Sahil Lochav's lawyer says, "On 14th August we went to the Police Station in Connaught Place. They said that all Jantar Mantar cases have come to Parliament Street Police Station. We came here. They… pic.twitter.com/Z6Mm7vGb1F
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2026
The lawyer said the station house officer later told him over the phone that police would not take up the case because they had received “orders from above”. She said the family subsequently approached the Crime Branch but was told complaints could not be submitted there directly.
The lawyer said that after Rahul Gandhi arrived at the police station, the complaint was stamped but an FIR had still not been registered. She said the family had a medical report from Delhi's Lady Hardinge Medical College Hospital documenting “punctured wounds” and bleeding.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad has criticised Rahul Gandhi for staging a sit-in at Parliament Street police station, saying the Congress leader was protesting without permission or prior notice.
Addressing mediapersons in Delhi, Prasad said police had informed Gandhi that an FIR had already been registered in connection with the incident he was referring to and that it was being investigated.
He also said the Supreme Court had set up a high-powered committee to investigate the matter.
“Rahul Gandhi, don't you want to respect any law?” Prasad said, accusing the Congress leader of engaging in the “politics of anarchy”.
He also alleged that the Congress was “stuck” because of its position on the national song Vande Mataram and condemned the ongoing protest.
#WATCH | BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "It is very unfortunate that LoP Rahul Gandhi does politics of anarchy. Currently, he is sitting on dharna at Parliament Street PS without permission or prior information. The police have informed him that an FIR has already been… pic.twitter.com/23kNqyxeQi
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2026
Sahil Lochab, who was injured by pellet gunfire during the July 20 protest, says he is still awaiting the registration of an FIR over the incident.
Speaking at Parliament Street Police Station, Lochab said he was initially admitted to Delhi's Lady Hardinge Hospital and later referred to AIIMS, where he underwent surgery.
“But the vision in my eye is still not clear,” he said.
Lochab said he submitted a seven-page complaint through his lawyer on 14 August, but the FIR had not yet been registered.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Parliament Street Police Station, pellet gun shelling victim Sahil Lochav says, "On 20th July, pellet guns were fired at me. I was admitted to Lady Hardinge, from there, I was referred to AIIMS. I underwent surgery at AIIMS. But the vision in my eye is still… pic.twitter.com/qbU1p2oaxZ
— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2026
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders would remain at Delhi's Parliament Street Police Station until an FIR was registered over the alleged use of pellet guns against Sahil during the July 20 protest.
Ramesh said Sahil, a young man from Rohtak district, had lost vision in one eye and suffered pellet injuries across his body. He said the demand from Gandhi, Sahil, his mother and his lawyer was for an FIR specifically relating to the alleged police action against Sahil and the use of pellet guns.
"We have been making this demand for the past two hours, but it has not been accepted yet," Ramesh said.
He said discussions may be under way with senior government and police officials, including the Home Secretary and Delhi Police Commissioner, and that the Home Minister could also be approached.
"The demand is simple... register the FIR, provide the registration number, and we will leave," Ramesh said. "Until the new FIR is registered and its registration number is provided, we will remain here."
VIDEO | Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Rahul Gandhi's dharna at the Parliament Street police station seeking the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the CJP-led July 20 protest, says, "The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and other… pic.twitter.com/1UKBFWzkdM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2026
As Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at a police station here, the Congress on Friday accused the BJP of communalising the situation in the country, evading accountability and raising non-issues.
The opposition party asserted that the dharna would continue till an FIR is registered by Delhi Police over pellet injuries suffered by a youth, 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, during the CJP-led July 20 protest.
"Our demand is simple -- register an FIR and give us the FIR number. LoP Rahul Gandhi is giving voice to this demand," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the Parliament Street police station.
Ramesh said the Congress was acting according to the Constitution and was well within its right to protest peacefully.
Hitting out at the BJP, Ramesh said there is an attempt to communalise the situation, evade accountability, evade responsibility and raise non-issues.
"An Indian youth anguished by the paper leak in the Staff Selection Commission was protesting on July 20. He did not belong to any political party, he had no political affiliation and a pellet gun was used on him," Ramesh said.
Lochab lost sight in one eye and his entire body is riddled with pellet marks, he said.
"I don't see what in the law, what in the Constitution, what in the practice of good governance, prevents Delhi Police from registering an FIR in the case of Sahil," Ramesh said.
Trinamool Congress joint secretary Derek O'Brien on Friday accused the ruling BJP of trying to "cover up" the issue of pellet guns being used on protesting students in Delhi on July 20.
The remarks came as Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna at the Parliament Street police station here and said he would not budge until an FIR is registered on a complaint by a youth who suffered pellet injuries during the Cockroach Janta Party-led July 20 protest.
"Pellets. On August 10, an RTI filed by TMC's Saket Gokhale first revealed the truth about the pellet criminal conspiracy. Modi-Shah's beleaguered government still in cover-up mode," O'Brien said.
The alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest has since become a major point of contention, with opposition leaders demanding accountability over the injuries suffered by protesters and seeking registration of an FIR.
Gokhale's RTI applications to four major central government hospitals in Delhi sought details of persons who sustained pellet gun injuries during the protest.
Replies from Lady Hardinge Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital confirmed a total of at least 10 victims -- nine at Lady Hardinge and one at Safdarjung.
AIIMS, however, declined to provide information sought under the RTI on whether any of the 96 casualty and emergency cases recorded on July 20 involved pellet, shot or projectile injuries.
The hospital said 94 of the cases were medico-legal and eight patients were admitted, but refused to disclose the nature of the injuries, citing Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act and stating that disclosure could directly or indirectly lead to identification or tracing of the individuals concerned.
The Delhi Police will register an FIR in connection with pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar, an official source said on Friday.
The move comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at the Parliament Street police station, demanding registration of the FIR in connection with pellet injuries suffered by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during the CJP-led protest.
"We will be registering an FIR in the matter," the source said.
Gandhi, accompanied by Lochab, first visited the Mandir Marg police station and sought the registration of the FIR.
After his demand was not accepted, he went to the Parliament Street police station and met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma before staging a sit-in.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP after Rahul Gandhi's dharna here demanding justice for a student who suffered pellet injuries, saying those shedding "crocodile tears" over nationalism are the biggest enemies of the country's youth.
Hitting out at the government over alleged police brutality against student protesters on July 20, Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn't uttered a single word to this day, and Home Minister Amit Shah has kept dodging accountability.
"Those shedding crocodile tears over nationalism are, in reality, the biggest enemies of the country's youth," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.
His remarks came after Gandhi sat on dharna at the Parliament Street police station here and said he would not budge until an FIR is registered on a complaint by a youth who suffered pellet injuries during the CJP-led July 20 protest.
The police later gave in and said an FIR is being registered.
In his post, Kharge also said, "Amit Shah didn't show up in Parliament for 19 days. The country wasn't told who ordered the firing of pellet guns on students and why such brutality was even necessary against our youth?"
"Now, Sahil, who was seriously injured by the pellets, and his mother are running around in circles with the Delhi Police to file an FIR. No Daily Diary Number, no Acknowledgment, no MLC report from AIIMS. Today, Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi himself has gone to the police station and then to the DCP's office with Sahil and his mother. What exactly is Amit Shah hiding," Kharge asked.
There was a lathi charge on students, tear gas was fired, pellet guns were used and many youth were seriously injured, he alleged.
"Our daughters were groped, beaten with lathis and sticks. But Prime Minister Modi hasn't uttered a single word to this day, and the Home Minister has kept dodging accountability. Sahil is not alone. Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party stand with every affected youth," Kharge said.
Their FIR will be registered, their voice will not be silenced, and the fight to deliver them justice will be waged with full force, Kharge asserted and added that "Chhatron ki Goonj" will not fade.
AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Friday alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the Delhi Police not to register an FIR on a complaint filed by a 19-year-old youth who suffered pellet gun injuries during the NEET paper leak protest in the national capital.
Venugopal, who is also an Alappuzha MP, was responding to questions about Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staging a dharna outside Parliament Street police station in New Delhi, demanding registration of an FIR over the injuries suffered by Sahil Lochab during a July 20 protest.
Venugopal said Gandhi had accompanied Sahil and his mother to the police station after no case registered on his complaint. He said Sahil had suffered a pellet injury to his eye and was facing the possibility of losing his eyesight. “The mother and the boy came and gave a complaint, so an FIR must be registered and investigated,” he said.
Venugopal alleged that the police's refusal to register a case was based on instructions from Shah.
“The police did not refuse to register the case on their own. We spoke to the police officers over the phone, and it became clear that they had been instructed from above not to register the case. They would not name the person who had issued the instruction, but it is clear that the direction came from Amit Shah,” he alleged.
Venugopal also questioned who had ordered the use of pellet guns during the protest. “We have a right to know, and the nation has a responsibility to know, who gave the instruction to use this. No one answered,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi ends over-six-hour dharna at Parliament Street police station after registration of FIR on youth suffering pellet injury.
Registration of FIR on youth suffering pellet injuries first step towards justice, Gandhi said after ending dharna.
