Independent experts say Delhi protest injuries consistent with pellet gun fire

Independent ballistic experts and medical evidence indicate that Indian security forces used pellet guns during a crackdown on protesters in central Delhi on 20 July, although the government has denied using such weapons.

The demonstration drew tens of thousands of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who were demanding education reforms and the resignation of the education minister following repeated exam paper leaks. The protest turned violent, leaving numerous people injured, says the BBC.

The Indian government has not confirmed the use of pellet guns. However, the BBC said it had confirmed at least four cases of protesters treated in hospitals for injuries consistent with pellet-gun fire.

Independent experts point to pellet guns

Ballistics forensic scientist Philip Boyce said images of the injuries showed they were caused by a shotgun firing pellets.

"The injuries depicted are definitely from a pellet gun," Boyce said, adding the weapon used was "a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun."

NR Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services (ARES), said "...images and video from the protests show the police using shotguns for crowd control" and photos of "injuries are strongly consistent with the use of birdshot."

Protesters describe injuries

Hospital records reviewed by the BBC for a 28-year-old journalist, Mohit, showed he sustained 26 pellet wounds to his right elbow and four to his upper back. X-rays showed multiple small objects embedded in his body.

"Two-three seconds later, I felt a burning sensation on my right arm and back," Mohit said.

"That's when I saw the tiny circular holes on my arm and upper back. I was completely freaked out."

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi later appeared alongside 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab at a news conference, where Lochab displayed injuries described as dozens of small wounds across his face and body.

"My right eye was swollen so much that it felt it had popped out of my face, I couldn't raise my right arm. I was bleeding profusely..." Lochab said.

Doctors said Lochab may lose an eye because of his injuries.

"I want justice. Whoever did this to me doesn't deserve to be in power," he said.

Another protester, Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, said he was struck after hearing what he described as a gunshot.

"We didn't think he would fire, but then I suddenly heard a cracking sound nearby and pellets hit me on my left eyebrow and my chin," Mansoori said.

Scans showed more than 40 pellets lodged in his body, including three deeply embedded in his neck, left eye muscle and beneath his nose. A senior hospital official said his injuries were caused by "pellet-type small particles" but added that determining whether they had been fired from a gun was "for the forensics to say."

Mansoori said surgeons removed seven pellets but left one lodged in his neck.

"Surgeons next morning removed seven pellets, but they had to leave the one in the neck as it was too risky to be taken out. They told me it's now part of your body," he said.

Mohit said he remained concerned about the long-term effects of the 30 pellets still lodged in his body.

Experts warn of lasting harm

Pellet guns are shotguns that fire cartridges containing between 200 and 400 small metal pellets, which spread over a wide area after being fired. Ballistics experts say this makes them indiscriminate when used against crowds.

"These pellet injuries can actually be quite devastating, especially at close range. The injuries I see [in Delhi] are not at close range, they're at least 50 feet. But they can actually still be devastating and potentially life-threatening even from 100 feet," Boyce said.

Jenzen-Jones said: "But these pellets are not safe. They can result in life-changing or, occasionally, life-threatening injuries. They also pepper the body with toxic lead, which can sometimes be difficult to remove safely."

Pellet guns have been banned for crowd-control purposes in several countries. They have been used by security forces in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2010, where rights groups and media have documented cases of deaths and permanent eye injuries. If confirmed, the Delhi incident would mark the first reported use of the weapons against protesters in India's capital.

Government rejects allegations

Delhi Police rejected the allegations, describing claims that pellet guns were used as "completely false and misleading" and saying the force does not possess such weapons.

Minister Jitendra Singh told parliament that "no 'bullets' were fired" and "only tear gas was used." He did not specifically address whether pellet guns had been deployed.

Rahul Gandhi called for the dismissal of Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he bore responsibility because both the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force, the paramilitary unit suspected by critics of firing the shots, report to him.