‘Who gave order to kill students?’: Rahul writes to Amit Shah, demands accountability over pellet gun usage during CJP protest
Questioning the home minister, Rahul Gandhi noted that the security forces in Delhi come directly under his control and sought answers regarding who ordered the violence on protesters.
Synopsis:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding accountability over the alleged use of pellet guns during the police crackdown on protests led by the CJP. In his letter, Rahul Gandhi noted that the Delhi police and the central forces come under Shah and demanded answers from him on who ordered the firing.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, 25 July, intensified attack on the BJP-led central government, questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the alleged use of pellet guns by the Delhi police and other central forces during a violent crackdown on protesters last week during an agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak.
According to media reports, as many as five people have undergone treatment for injuries inflicted using pellet guns during the protest.
Hospital records of some of the victims have confirmed the injuries as being caused using pellet guns, even as the Delhi police in a statement denied the use of the lethal weapons.
Coming down heavily on the central government over the use of pellet guns, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X asked, “Who gave the order to kill the students?”
The Congress leader also shared a letter addressed to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding accountability for what he described as a “barbaric assault” on the students during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest on July 20.
Listing the alleged atrocities committed by the police against the students, including targeted attack on young women, Rahul Gandhi described the use of pellet guns as the most shocking of all.
“Our students were demanding a fair and accountable education system.
Instead of being heard, security forces assaulted them with indiscriminate force, including lethal weapons and tear gas. Hundreds have suffered serious injuries. Women students have been assaulted by policemen, including by deliberately targeting their private parts. Most shocking has been the use of lethal pellet guns,” he wrote.
Gandhi cited media reports and visuals on social media, showing serious injuries to students caused by the pellet guns.
“Reports in the media and social media clearly show people who have suffered grave injuries, including a journalist. I met 19-year old student Sahil Lochab, who is now in severe pain is likely to lose an eye because he was shot with pellet guns,” he said.
Questioning the home minister, Gandhi noted that the security forces in Delhi come directly under his control and sought answers regarding who ordered the violence on protesters.
“1. As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force including pellet guns against students? If not, who did? 2. Are the people in plain clothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers? Who authorized their deployment?” Gandhi asked.
He also stressed on the importance of protest in a democracy.
“Peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy. It is the government’s responsibility to protect protestors and resolve their grievances through dialogue. Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard,” Gandhi wrote in his letter.