Amnesty report alleges excessive force against Gen Z protesters in India

Serious allegations have emerged against security forces over the use of pellet guns, tear gas grenades and electric shock shotguns during a recent Gen Z protest by young people in the Indian capital Delhi. The allegations were detailed in a latest investigation report by international human rights organisation Amnesty International. The organisation claims that Indian security forces used excessive force to suppress the protests, violating their own policies as well as international human rights law.

According to the report, thousands of students and young people backed by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) staged a protest at Parliament Street in Delhi on July 20 against question paper leaks and irregularities in the education sector. In an attempt to disperse the protesters, police and paramilitary forces allegedly fired pellet guns and launched tear gas grenades directly at demonstrators.

Amnesty International’s Evidence Lab analysed videos, photographs and eyewitness testimonies and confirmed that highly dangerous metal pellets were used against protesters. A 19-year-old student named Sahil Lochab said that more than 200 pellets became embedded in his body and that he nearly lost the sight in one eye. Following the incident, Delhi Police described reports of pellet gun use on social media as “fake news” and allegedly provided false information to the Supreme Court. However, evidence collected by Amnesty and an internal investigation by the paramilitary forces found that at least seven rounds of pellet cartridges had been used.

Amnesty India Board Chair Aakar Patel said, “After failed attempts to suppress the movement by cutting communication and using barricades, this violence was carried out. This was state-sponsored violence carried out in the name of crowd control.” The incident has triggered intense political debate in India. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Modi government Home Minister Amit Shah. He stood beside the affected students, participated in a sit-in outside the police commissioner’s office and forced authorities to file a case over the use of pellets.