NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday staged protest outside Parliament Street Police Station, demanding justice for pellet-gun victims in police crackdown during student protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. Priyanka Gandhi also joined Rahul Gandhi staging a ‘dharna’ at the Sansad Marg Police Station.Former Congress chief met senior police officials at DCP office in Connaught Place.He sought registration of a complaint over police action and excessive use of force, including the use of pellet guns, against student protesters during a demonstration over NEET irregularities on July 20.Rahul has said he will remain at the police station and continue to seek justice until the complaint is formally registered.Rahul had earlier visited Mandir Marg Police Station and requested that a case be registered. After police allegedly declined to register the complaint, he proceeded to meet the DCP Central.Earlier on July 25, Rahul Gandhi had directly criticised Union home minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the use of excessive force, including pellet guns, against student protesters in the national capital.Speaking at a press conference, Rahul alleged that Shah had authorised the use of lethal weapons during the protests and said the issue was of fundamental importance in Parliament.What Congress claimsCongress said in a statement that Delhi Police had refused to register an FIR over a pellet gun attack on student protester Sahil Lochav, saying the matter had been raised with the police earlier but no case had been registered.The party said Lochav had submitted a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14 in the presence of his lawyers, but police did not provide an I/O number or an acknowledgement. The matter was followed up again on August 17 through email and phone calls, but the party alleged that no I/O number was provided.Congress said Rahul Gandhi later accompanied Lochav to the DCP office to press for registration of the case. The party alleged that the DCP did not provide the name of the investigating officer or the I/O number.“As it’s a cognisable offence, a FIR also has to be registered, but Delhi police not doing so,” Congress said.“No FIR. No justice. So we sit,” Congress said, referring to Rahul’s sit-in with Lochav outside the DCP office.“This is not delay. This is denial of justice. We will not leave until an FIR is filed,” the party added.On July 20, thousands of students took part in a Parliament march organised by the CJP, demanding, among other things, the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks and reforms in the examination system.
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As protesters attempted to march towards Parliament and cross police barricades in central Delhi, security personnel used tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. Several videos later circulated on social media, showing police personnel manhandling protesters, leading to allegations of excessive use of force.The Delhi Police, however, defended its action, saying force was used only after sections of the protesting crowd allegedly turned violent and resorted to stone-pelting.
