After the Cockroach Janta Party's march on Parliament on 20 July 2026, Delhi Police said reports of pellet guns were fake. That denial is contradicted by a Rapid Action Force diary entry, a paramilitary inquiry, hospital records and videos verified by Amnesty International.
Claim: Pellet guns were not used on protesters on 20 July, and reports saying so were "fake news".
Said by: Delhi Police, on X, after the 20 July march.
What the record shows: Amnesty verified pellet use on video, hospital records show pellet wounds, and a paramilitary inquiry reportedly found at least seven pellet rounds were fired.
Where the claim came from
The "Sansad Chalo" march on 20 July was held without permission while prohibitory orders were in force, and it turned violent near Parliament. ThePrint Photos of injured protesters with small round wounds spread online that night.
Police position at the time Delhi Police posted on X that reports of pellet injuries were "fake news" and "completely false and misleading", and warned of "appropriate legal action" against people "spreading rumours". Police repeated the denial of disproportionate force before the Supreme Court. Al Jazeera
What the evidence shows
Documented A Rapid Action Force General Diary entry recorded firing "on the orders of the DCP": 55 non-electrical and 15 electrical shells, 5 tear-smoke grenades and plastic-pellet rounds. Outlook
An internal paramilitary inquiry reportedly found that personnel fired at least seven rounds containing metal pellets. Al Jazeera The Indian Express account of a CRPF finding said one RAF officer near Connaught Place fired seven times and five rounds hit protesters. Newsreel Asia
Indian newspapers obtained hospital records showing doctors treated pellet wounds in several cases. Al Jazeera At least three people needed hospital care for pellet wounds, including a 28-year-old Outlook reporter. Newsreel Asia
Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old Delhi University student, lost vision in one eye. His complaint says he had pellet wounds to his chest, back, arms and face, with more than 200 pellets in his body. Police at first refused to register it, and did so only after Rahul Gandhi held a seven-hour sit-in outside the police chief's office. Al Jazeera
Claim · Amnesty International Amnesty's Evidence Lab verified two videos of an RAF officer firing a shotgun into the crowd at Connaught Place and Parliament Street, and found at least two protesters with wounds consistent with birdshot. It said police gave no public warning before firing and that the evidence "directly contradicts" the police account. Al Jazeera Amnesty USA
Alt News reported that police records confirmed what videos had already shown. Alt News
Context
Police also report serious injuries on their side: 118 security personnel hurt, according to the police count, and stone-pelting caught on CCTV. AP/PBS Those facts are not in dispute here. The question is only whether pellets were fired, and the official records say they were.
On 30 July the Supreme Court issued notice and ordered Delhi Police to file its pellet-gun standard operating procedure. The Week The full story of the march is on our Cockroach Janta Party protests page.
Questions people ask
Did Delhi Police use pellet guns on CJP protesters?
Yes, according to an RAF General Diary entry, a paramilitary inquiry and hospital records. Police had called the reports "fake news".
Who was hurt by pellets on 20 July?
At least three people needed hospital care, including a reporter. Student Sahil Lochab lost sight in one eye and says more than 200 pellets were found in his body.
What did the Supreme Court do about the pellets?
On 30 July 2026 it issued notice and asked Delhi Police to file its standard operating procedure for pellet guns.
Sources
- Al Jazeera: India used pellets, grenades on Gen Z protests: what the Amnesty report reveals, 24 Aug 2026
- Outlook: Delhi Police ordered RAF to fire pellet guns, GD entry, Jul 2026
- Newsreel Asia: CJP protests, latest developments, 27 Jul 2026
- Amnesty USA: New investigation documents unlawful force against CJP-led protests, 24 Aug 2026
- Alt News: Police records confirm pellet guns were used on 20 July, 2026
- ThePrint: What happened during CJP's Chalo Sansad, 20 Jul 2026
- AP/PBS: Cockroach movement vows to continue after crackdown, Jul 2026
- The Week: Supreme Court on pellet-gun SOP, 30 Jul 2026
