Amnesty International Exposes Brutal Tactics Used Against Protesters in New Delhi

In a shocking revelation, Amnesty International's latest report has confirmed the use of excessive force by Indian security forces during the Gen Z protests in New Delhi last month. The protests erupted on July 20, as thousands demanded the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid a series of examination scandals.

According to the investigation, police and paramilitary units employed a variety of lethal weapons on demonstrators, including pellet guns, grenades, batons, and electric shock devices. Eyewitness accounts and medical records indicate that over 100 students sustained injuries, with many suffering from pellet wounds.

The protests were initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement that gained traction following the national exams fiasco. In the lead-up to the protests, police forcibly removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from a hunger strike, a move that intensified public outrage and drew more demonstrators to the streets.

On the day of the march, Amnesty documented the police's use of tear gas and electric batons against peaceful protesters. Video evidence corroborated claims that officers fired pellet guns into crowds, with some protesters reporting injuries consistent with those caused by birdshot ammunition.

Amnesty's findings directly contradict the Delhi Police's claims of not using excessive force. Despite the mounting evidence, the government has dismissed reports of brutality, maintaining that security forces acted appropriately. The police also publicly denied the use of pellet guns, even in hearings before India's Supreme Court.

In a grim parallel to past incidents of police violence in India, the report highlights that the tactics employed during the July protests breached both international law and domestic policing guidelines. Amnesty condemned the actions, stating that the deployment of such weapons poses a severe risk of injury to both protesters and bystanders.

After the protests, videos surfaced depicting officers from the Rapid Action Force firing shotguns into the crowd at a key intersection in New Delhi. Medical professionals confirmed that many injuries were indeed from pellet guns, with at least one protester recounting the horror of having over 200 pellets lodged in his body.

Amnesty also raised concerns about the indiscriminate use of tear gas grenades, which were reportedly launched directly at protesters rather than in a safe arc as recommended by UN guidelines. Observers noted that police officers used lathis—traditional batons—against demonstrators, which have been criticized by the UN as excessively painful and dangerous.

In the aftermath, the CJP has called for accountability, urging that every officer involved in the crackdown be identified and held responsible. Opposition leaders, including Congress party's Rahul Gandhi, have demanded answers from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the police's actions. Gandhi has argued that if Shah ordered the use of lethal force, he must be held accountable, while if he was unaware, it indicates incompetence.

Despite the gravity of the situation, police have dismissed claims of pellet injuries as “fake news,” threatening legal action against those who spread such information. However, an internal inquiry within India’s paramilitary forces has reportedly confirmed the use of metal pellets during the protests.

As tensions rise, the CJP has launched a platform for protesters to share their experiences of the crackdown, aiming to document the violence and seek justice for those affected.

Source: www.aljazeera.com