{"success":true,"data":{"id":"c1db3b7c-aa5e-4033-9398-e6af8aadc655","title":"Indian authorities ‘blame single officer’ for use of controversial pellet gun on protesters","summary":"US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMoney TravelTravel PremiumPremium ClimateClimate More More Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site t...","content":"US Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\n*   Climate[Climate](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Indian authorities ‘blame single officer’ for use of controversial pellet gun on protesters\n\n## Serious injuries to Gen Z protesters that appeared consistent with pellet gun use became a major rallying cry for the ‘cockroach’ movement\n\n[Shweta Sharma](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/shweta-sharma)Monday 27 July 2026 13:07 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/delhi-protest-pellet-gun-use-cockroach-cjp-india-b3022181.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nClose\n\nPowered By\n\n10 Sec\n\n1.3K\n\n0\n\nStudent protesters in Delhi allege pellet gun use by Indian forces\n\nNext video in\n\nNext\n\nKEEP WATCHING\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\nAn internal investigation by [India](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/india)'s paramilitary security force has reportedly confirmed the use of a controversial pellet gun during last week’s crackdown on peaceful protests in Delhi.\n\nThe security forces’ alleged use of pellet guns, a controversial crowd-control weapon that shoots a spread of multiple tiny pellets, became a major source of outrage among protesters last week after a march on India’s parliament was brutally quashed.\n\nDelhi Police and the Rapid Action Force wing of India’s Central Reserve Police Force –a federal paramilitary force under India's home ministry – have not denied using tear gas, baton charges and other brute force methods to prevent protesters with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from approaching parliament last Monday. They have said that the use of force was proportionate and that some protesters threw stones at police.\n\nBut there was outrage at evidence, in the form of protesters displaying distinctive wound patterns, that the security forces may have used pellet guns against protesters in the capital for the first time. _The Independent_ spoke to [two of the injured protesters](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/delhi-protest-dharmendra-pradhan-pellet-victims-police-evidence-b3021437.html)while they were receiving treatment in hospital. Both alleged they were struck by pellets fired by security personnel during the crackdown on demonstrators marching towards Parliament.\n\nIndian media outlets cited CRPF sources as saying an internal probe into the matter has been completed, finding that a lone Rapid Action Force personnel member fired seven rounds from a pellet gun, with five rounds striking protesters and two hitting the ground, during the 20 July protest march.\n\nUndo\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://www.blinkist.com/magazine/posts/the-5-hour-rule)[Warren Buffett, Elon Musk and other moguls all use the 5-hour rule. 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The rounds were fired after protesters attacked security personnel and started pelting stones,” a CRPF sources told the Indian Express.\n\nCalling it an internal “professional assessment” that pellet guns were used, an official told _The Hindu_ that the “initial findings are known, but a final report will be available only after a comprehensive investigation and review”.\n\nCRPF director general Gyanendra Pratap Singh said they will release a report on the incident in due course, [now that the so-called “cockroach” protests have ended with the government agreeing to meet the movement’s demands](https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/india-cockroach-janata-party-gen-z-protests-dharmendra-pradhan-b3022113.html \"Why India’s ‘cockroach’ protests had such impact – and what could happen next\").\n\n“Now, since the agitation has been called off, and assembled people have dispersed, we would make a professional post-event assessment, like we do after every major assignment, and then let you know the view of the Force headquarters,” he said.\n\nSupporters of India's Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) celebrate following the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, after days of protests demanding he step down over the alleged NEET examination paper leak scandal(Getty)\n\nDelhi Police categorically denied using pellet guns after reports emerged of students receiving treatment at the hospital.\n\n“Delhi Police neither possess pellet guns nor do they use them in the ongoing protest. The public is requested not to share or circulate any unverified or misleading information,” they said in an X post, warning of action for spreading rumours.\n\n_The Independent_ spoke to Sahil Lohchab, a 20-year-old student who suffered severe facial and eye injuries. Doctors have told him he is likely to lose sight in one eye.\n\nSahil Lohchab suffered injury in his right eye(Supplied)\n\nMr Lohchab, who later appeared in front of the press alongside opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, said he had a national flag in his hand when he was shot with pellets and his eye swelled up instantly.\n\n“I was leading protesters and I had my hands folded when they fired,” he said, describing a gesture of peace towards the security forces.\n\nIrshad Mansoori, 25, a reporter for _Outlook Magazine,_ has been identified as another pellet gun victim.\n\nMedical records from Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital showed injuries \"consistent with pellets striking\" the body of the journalist, according to local media. Reports said Mansoori was examined by specialists from three hospital departments to confirm the assessment.\n\nThe incident appears to be the first confirmed use of pellet guns by security forces during crowd-control operations in the Indian capital.\n\nThe weapons have, however, long been used to target demonstrators in Indian-administered [Kashmir](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/kashmir), where activists say scores of protesters have been killed or critically injured due to their use. An Amnesty International report documented at least 88 cases of people who lost their eyesight due to metal pellets fired by security forces in Kashmir between 2014 to 2017.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/delhi-protest-pellet-gun-use-cockroach-cjp-india-b3022181.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/delhi-protest-pellet-gun-use-cockroach-cjp-india-b3022181.html","author":"Shweta Sharma","author_name":"Shweta Sharma","published_at":"2026-07-27T12:07:06.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-27T12:07:06.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/24/4/31/Delhi-protest-pellets.jpeg","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":6,"word_count":1170,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot","language":null}}