Alleged Pellet Gun Use on Student Protesters: Governance and Right to Protest Under Scrutiny

Hindustan Times - India · 25 Jul 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of using pellet guns on student protesters at Jantar Mantar, highlighting governance failures in handling peaceful demonstrations and raising constitutional concerns over excessive police force.

Key points

Rahul Gandhi presented a student with eye injuries allegedly caused by pellet guns during protests at Jantar Mantar, contradicting government claims that no such weapons were used.

Delhi Police denied using pellet guns but admitted that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel carry them as part of anti-riot gear, creating ambiguity about accountability.

Medical reports from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital documented 'suspected gunshot injury' and 'pellet injury marks' on protesters, contradicting official statements.

The protests stem from alleged NEET paper leaks and police recruitment exam irregularities, exposing systemic governance failures in India's examination system.

[GS2-Governance] This connects to GS2's 'Accountability and Ethical Governance' topic, demonstrating how lack of transparency in examinations erodes public trust in institutions.

Rahul Gandhi outlined three demands: resignation of the Education Minister, legal action against security personnel, and an apology from PM Modi, framing it as a youth rights issue.

[GS3-Security] The use of pellet guns, primarily deployed in conflict zones like J&K, raises questions about proportionality of force in civilian protests under the Criminal Procedure Code.

Right to Peaceful Protest under Article 19(1)(a) is being tested against the state's duty to maintain public order under Article 19(3), requiring judicial clarity.

This incident follows a pattern of escalating police responses to student protests, as seen during CJP demonstrations, indicating a governance crisis in handling dissent.

Way Forward: Establish clear SOPs for crowd control specifying prohibited weapons like pellet guns, create independent investigation mechanisms for police excesses, and reform examination governance through technological solutions like blockchain-based paper distribution.

Key terms

Pellet Guns

Non-lethal crowd control weapons that fire metal pellets, causing severe injuries. First used extensively in J&K, their deployment in mainland protests raises constitutional concerns about proportionality of force under Article 21 (Right to Life).

Rapid Action Force (RAF)

A specialized wing of CRPF established in 1992 for riot control. While mandated to carry anti-riot gear, its use of pellet guns in civilian protests requires scrutiny under the UN Basic Principles on Use of Force.

Article 19(1)(a)

Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, including right to peaceful protest. Its reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3) must meet the 'least restrictive means' test established in Anuradha Bhasin v Union of India (2020).

Medico-Legal Case (MLC)

A medical examination conducted for legal purposes, serving as crucial evidence in police brutality cases. Proper documentation of protest injuries strengthens judicial review of state action under Article 32/226.