RAF Personnel Fired 7 Pellet Gun Rounds During Connaught Place Protest
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) inquiry revealed that a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed in the Connaught Place area fired at least seven rounds from a pellet gun during a July 20 protest, injuring five people. Among those hit was Prashant, a 25-year-old graphic artist from Delhi who sustained pellet wounds to his chest, right arm, and groin area.
Prashant was initially taken to Lady Hardinge Hospital on July 20 and attended Lok Nayak Hospital on Monday evening for follow-up care. Hospital records from Lady Hardinge Hospital dated July 20 confirm injuries to his chest, right upper limb, and groin region. Doctors removed several pellets from his arms, but a few remain lodged deep inside his tissue.
Dr Himani Ahluwalia, Director of Lady Hardinge Hospital, stated that pellets can be made of lead, steel, or plastic. She explained that pellets lodged near the skin surface can be removed with forceps, but those lodged deeper in the muscle are difficult to extract and are kept under observation. Patients injured by pellets receive treatment similar to puncture wounds and are advised to follow up across various hospital departments.
The clash occurred during a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party around the inner circle of Connaught Place. Prashant, who had been visiting Jantar Mantar since the protest began on June 6 to document the events and paint protesters on canvas, recounted that chaos broke out between protesters and security personnel.
According to Prashant, protesters were throwing stones while police responded with tear gas and lathicharges. Prashant said he urged protesters not to throw stones and pleaded with police to stop beating people, but was hit on the legs by a lathi while trying to save a friend.
Amid the haze of tear gas, Prashant was struck in his right arm by pellet fire from security personnel, with enough force to throw him back a few feet. The impact caused severe bleeding and swelling before he was taken for medical care.
