Injuries and Evidence
Mohit, a 28-year-old journalist, described the sudden pain on his right arm and back as if something had burned through his skin. After seeing a security personnel point his weapon, he turned and ran, only to be hit moments later. The searing pain led him to a café, where he used water to clean his wounds. Upon closer inspection, he saw small, circular holes. Medical records from Safdarjung hospital showed 26 pellet wounds in his right elbow and four on his upper back. The X-ray revealed tiny foreign objects embedded in his body, supporting claims of pellet-gun injuries. Mohit's account provides a firsthand look at the kind of injuries people sustained during the violent crackdown in Central Delhi on 20 July.
Experts Philip Boyce and NR Jenzen-Jones, after reviewing photos and videos from the 20 July protest, concluded the injuries align with birdshot from a 12-gauge shotgun. Boyce noted the distance of the injuries was roughly 50 feet or more, yet the wounds could still be severe and even life-threatening. The forensic evidence from the photographs and video footage showed clear signs of pellet gun damage. These injuries include multiple puncture wounds with a distinct pattern that is consistent with the way lead pellets disperse when shot from a shotgun.
Use of Pellet Guns in Crowd Control
Pellet guns, also referred to as shotguns loaded with birdshot, are used in various crowd-control scenarios. Jenzen-Jones explained that Indian law enforcement has a history of using them, particularly in Indian-administered Kashmir. There, the use of such weapons has caused widespread harm, with Human Rights Watch reporting thousands of injuries, dozens of blinding cases, and at least 17 deaths. Despite the risks, these weapons are often favored for their ability to disperse crowds quickly, though at a high human cost. Jenzen-Jones emphasized the potential for life-changing injuries, especially when such weapons are deployed in densely populated urban areas.
These weapons are prohibited in several countries due to their high potential for causing serious injuries. Even at a distance, the pellets spread widely, increasing the risk of wounding multiple individuals. Boyce, noting the availability of such guns in the UK for bird hunting, said they are not used for crowd control there. The use of shotguns in this way is often a controversial and dangerous tactic, leading to long-term health consequences due to the presence of lead in the body. This toxic metal can be challenging to remove and may cause additional complications for victims.
Following the 20 July violence, the Delhi Police stated that 60 protesters and 118 police officers were injured. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) claims the number of injured protesters is much higher. To date, the government has neither confirmed nor denied the use of pellet guns in the crackdown. The discrepancy in reported numbers raises questions about the true extent of the injuries and the government's role in documenting and addressing them. Despite the CJP's insistence that the official count is low, there remains no official statement acknowledging the use of pellet guns during the protests.
If verified, this would represent the first recorded use of pellet guns against citizens in Delhi's capital. A senior hospital official confirmed a fourth case involving pellet-related injuries, further supporting the allegations. This incident raises significant concerns about the potential escalation of such tactics in urban protest scenarios. The use of this weapon in a place where so many people gather, such as Connaught Place, adds a new layer to the debate on the appropriate methods of crowd control. It also highlights the need for greater accountability and transparency in how law enforcement responds to mass protests.
