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

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday reached Parliament Street Police Station and met senior Delhi Police authorities, seeking registration of a complaint over alleged apply of excessive force against student protesters during a July 20 demonstration over NEET irregularities, sources noted.

Key points

• 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.
• Nevertheless, accounts from injured protesters, medical reports and an investigation by India Today have raised questions concerning the claim that pellet guns were not applied on July 20.
• The Congress leader had accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being directly responsible for the alleged employ of excessive force against student protesters.
• The Congress has asserted that pellet guns were employed by RAF personnel during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march after cases of injuries emerged in subsequent days.
• We hold Amit Shah directly responsible for the violence that has taken place against our students.

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

After police allegedly declined to register the complaint, the Congress leader proceeded to meet the DCP (Central) and afterwards reached Parliament Street Police Station, where he was gathering police authorities.

Gandhi has created 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.

In practice, the Congress has asserted that pellet guns were employed 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 matter.

In practice, the Congress leader had accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being directly responsible for the alleged employ 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 employ of lethal weapons, including pellet guns, against our students. For us, this is a fundamental matter. We will not accept our own forces shooting at the future of India, " Gandhi had remarked.

Taken together, the developments around rahul Gandhi stages dharna at Delhi police station, seeks FIR over police point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.