Pellet gun use in protests raises governance and human rights concerns as Rahul Gandhi's dharna forces FIR registration

The Hindu - News · 22 Aug 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance

Rahul Gandhi ended a 6-hour dharna after Delhi Police registered an FIR under BNS Act for pellet injuries sustained by a NEET protester, highlighting governance concerns over crowd control methods and access to justice.

Key points

FIR registration: Delhi Police filed the case under Section 118(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, 2023 after political pressure, documenting pellet gun use against 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during NEET protests.

Governance concerns: Opposition leaders alleged Home Ministry interference in policing, with Rahul Gandhi claiming FIR clearance came only after Home Secretary's approval, raising questions about police autonomy.

Pellet gun controversy: The incident revives debate on non-lethal crowd control methods, with medical reports showing 200+ pellets in victim's body and <1% chance of vision recovery, testing proportionality under Article 21.

Opposition's constitutional role: J&K CM Omar Abdullah defended Rahul Gandhi's protests as fulfilling the Leader of Opposition's duty to hold government accountable, per parliamentary democracy principles.

[GS2-Governance] This connects to police reforms and the Prakash Singh case guidelines on police autonomy, highlighting how political interference undermines institutional integrity.

[GS3-Security] Pellet guns, though categorized as 'less lethal', have caused thousands of eye injuries in J&K since 2010, raising questions about their suitability for urban crowd control.

Judicial recourse: The victim's month-long struggle for FIR registration exposes gaps in Section 154 CrPC compliance, where police must record cognizable offences promptly.

Way Forward: India should establish clear protocols for crowd control weapon use, mandate body cameras for police, create independent complaint authorities per SC directives, and amend BNS to define 'proportionate force' explicitly.

Key terms

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, 2023

India's new penal code replacing IPC, effective July 2024. Section 118(1) penalizes causing hurt with dangerous weapons. UPSC relevance: Part of criminal justice reforms, balances state security needs with rights protection under Articles 14 and 21.

Leader of Opposition

A statutory post under Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977. Recognized when opposition has 10% Lok Sabha seats. UPSC relevance: Vital for parliamentary democracy, ensures executive accountability through tools like questions, debates, and protests.

Pellet guns

12-gauge pump-action shotguns firing metal pellets, classified as 'less lethal' under UN guidelines. UPSC relevance: Their use in J&K and now mainland protests raises human rights concerns under ICCPR and questions about police modernization needs.

Article 21

Constitutional right to life and personal liberty, interpreted by SC to include dignity and protection from state excesses. UPSC relevance: Forms basis for judging proportionality of police action, as established in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) on J&K restrictions.