Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, staged a dharna at the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi on Friday amid an escalating controversy over alleged pellet gun use during a student protest at Jantar Mantar. The Congress leader’s protest came as the political confrontation over the treatment of demonstrators intensified.
The development marks a fresh escalation in the dispute surrounding the July 20 protest, during which several students were injured amid clashes with security personnel. Gandhi has repeatedly demanded accountability over allegations that pellet guns and other forceful crowd-control measures were used against protesters.
Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament Street police station
Gandhi arrived at the Parliament Street Police Station and went to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police to raise the issue. He was accompanied by an injured protester, according to reports, as he sought action over the allegations surrounding the Jantar Mantar incident.
The Congress leader’s presence at the police station turned into a protest after the police allegedly declined to register the complaint. Gandhi subsequently sat on a dharna, pressing for the complaint to be formally taken up.
The incident adds a political dimension to an already contentious dispute between opposition leaders, protesters and Delhi Police over what happened during the student mobilisation.
Complaint over alleged pellet gun injuries
The immediate issue behind Gandhi’s visit was the complaint concerning alleged pellet gun injuries suffered by protesters. Congress sources said an injured student had earlier approached Delhi Police with a written complaint but did not receive an acknowledgement or an investigation officer number.
According to reports, the complaint was pursued again through email and telephone, but the complainant allegedly did not receive confirmation that it had been formally registered.
Gandhi’s decision to accompany the injured protester to the police station was aimed at putting pressure on the authorities to address the complaint and establish what happened during the protest.
Delhi Police denies pellet gun allegations
Delhi Police has strongly denied allegations that its personnel used pellet guns against peaceful protesters during the Jantar Mantar demonstration. The force had earlier described such claims as false and misleading.
The police position has remained that the allegations do not accurately reflect the actions taken by security personnel during the protest. The controversy, however, has continued after injured protesters and opposition leaders raised questions about the nature of the injuries sustained during the confrontation.
The conflicting accounts have made the alleged use of pellet guns one of the most contentious issues arising from the protest.
Injured student becomes centre of controversy
An injured student, identified in earlier reports as Sahil Lohchab, has emerged as a key figure in the controversy. Gandhi had previously appeared before the media alongside Lohchab and highlighted injuries that he said were consistent with pellet wounds.
Gandhi accused the government of denying the alleged use of pellet guns despite the injuries reported by protesters. He argued that the matter required an independent investigation and accountability for any excessive use of force.
The student’s reported injuries, including serious damage to his eye, have intensified political criticism and calls for a detailed investigation.
Supreme Court scrutiny adds pressure
The controversy has also reached the Supreme Court, which has moved toward setting up a high-powered committee to examine allegations of police excesses during the Jantar Mantar protests.
The proposed inquiry is significant because it shifts the dispute beyond political accusations and places the conduct of security forces under judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court’s intervention could help establish a clearer account of the events and determine whether excessive force was used.
Delhi Police, meanwhile, has maintained that it exercised restraint while dealing with the protest. Officials have defended the security response and rejected allegations that prohibited or excessive methods were used.
Political confrontation intensifies
Gandhi’s dharna at the police station is likely to further sharpen the political confrontation between the Congress-led opposition and the government over the handling of student protests.
For the Congress, the episode has become a broader question of accountability, civil liberties and the right of students to protest. Gandhi has repeatedly positioned himself against what he describes as excessive action against young protesters.
For authorities, the central issue remains maintaining law and order during demonstrations and preventing protest gatherings from escalating into confrontations.
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The dispute also comes amid heightened restrictions around Jantar Mantar. Delhi Police said on Thursday that no permission had been granted for a protest at the site on August 21, adding another layer to the tense atmosphere surrounding demonstrations in the national capital.
What happens next?
The immediate focus is likely to remain on whether the complaint concerning the alleged pellet gun injuries is formally registered and investigated. Any findings from the judicially monitored process could become crucial in resolving competing claims about the July 20 confrontation.
Gandhi’s decision to stage a dharna inside the wider police-station episode signals that the Congress intends to keep the issue politically alive. With the Supreme Court also examining allegations of police excesses, the controversy over the Jantar Mantar protest is now being fought on both political and legal fronts.
As authorities and opposition leaders present sharply different accounts, the investigation and available evidence will ultimately determine whether the allegations of pellet gun use can be substantiated. For now, Rahul Gandhi’s protest has brought the issue back into the national spotlight, intensifying demands for transparency and accountability over the treatment of student demonstrators.
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