Document Suggests RAF Used Plastic Pellet Rounds During Delhi Protest, Contradicting Initial Police Denial
Fresh controversy has erupted over the police response to the July 20 student protest in New Delhi after an official General Diary (GD) entry reportedly revealed that personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) fired plastic pellet rounds during the demonstration. The disclosure has raised questions over earlier public statements by Delhi Police denying that pellet guns had been used against protesters.
According to the official record, the RAF deployed multiple crowd-control measures during the protest near Jantar Mantar. The document reportedly records the use of 55 non-electric shells, 15 electric shells, five tear smoke grenades and two rounds fired from an Anti-Riot Gun (ARG) loaded with non-lethal plastic pellets. The entry further states that the firing was carried out on the directions of a Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner (DCP) stationed at the protest site.
The reported document has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing debate over the handling of the protest. Videos circulating on social media had earlier shown several protesters with injuries, prompting allegations that pellet guns had been used. At the time, Delhi Police dismissed those claims as “false” and maintained that the force did not possess pellet guns.
Following the emergence of the diary entry, officials clarified that the rounds mentioned in the record were plastic pellets fired from RAF anti-riot equipment rather than the metal pellet guns historically associated with operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities have described the ammunition as a non-lethal crowd-control measure intended to disperse violent gatherings, although rights groups and opposition leaders have questioned whether its use was proportionate.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), under which the RAF operates, has identified the personnel involved and launched an internal inquiry to determine whether standard operating procedures were followed. Officials said the investigation would examine the circumstances leading to the firing, the authorization process and whether the use of force complied with operational guidelines.
The issue has also taken a political turn. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning who authorized the use of pellet rounds against student protesters and demanding accountability. Opposition parties have called for an independent investigation, while civil rights groups have sought greater transparency regarding the rules governing the deployment of anti-riot weapons during public demonstrations.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has stated that a senior officer named in reports has denied authorizing the alleged firing or being present at the specific location when the pellets were discharged. The conflicting accounts have intensified scrutiny of the chain of command and the accuracy of official communications issued immediately after the protest.
The findings contained in the General Diary have shifted the focus of the controversy from whether pellet rounds were fired to whether their use was lawful, properly authorized and consistent with established crowd-control protocols. As multiple inquiries continue, investigators are expected to review operational logs, video footage, witness testimonies and command records before determining whether disciplinary or legal action is warranted.
