Delhi CJP protest: Teenager risks losing vision in right eye after alleged pellet gun injury

He is only 19-years-old and aspires to be a police officer. But now he faces the prospect of completely losing vision in his right eye after being allegedly hit in the eye, face and chest with pellet guns allegedly fired by security forces during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in Delhi on July 20.

This is the current predicament of Sahil Lochab. Ajay Duggal, his uncle, said that when he asked Lochab whether he could see from his eye, his response seemed to be hinting at his worst fears coming true.

A dream in jeopardy

“Sahil said he was hit directly in his eye. From what we have been told, another operation involving the pupil will determine whether his vision will return,” said Duggal.

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Lochab has already undergone one surgery in the injured eye and is awaiting another. He was first taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College and later to Safdarjung Hospital before being shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre on July 21.

“He was conscious when they brought him here. He was talking to us. But when I saw his face, I kept looking at his eyes and thinking - what if he had lost his sight completely? Who would give him back the life he had before he went to that protest?” Duggal said.

Hope hangs by a thread

The prospect of the teenager regaining vision in his right eye appears to be grim, with doctors initially telling his family members that there was only a “1 per cent chance” Sahil would regain his vision. However, on Thursday (July 23), the doctors said his chances may improve.

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According to a PTI report quoting sources, his visual prognosis has been described as “guarded”, meaning his chances of recovering his vision are uncertain. He is likely to undergo another surgery in the next day or two.

The teenager has multiple pellet injuries to his face, neck, chest, right shoulder and arm. A pellet was lodged in his right eye, causing corneal perforation, while another was found in his right lung and pericardial fat, stated the report. His family members said they were informed that the pellets that injured Sahil were made of metal.

Questions over pellet guns

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s injuries have also raised questions about the alleged use of pellet guns during the protest. Delhi Police has denied that its personnel used pellet guns against protesters, calling such reports “completely false and misleading”.

Also Read: From slaps, social media ridicule to threats: Police brutality under fire amid CJP protests

"The public is strongly advised not to share or circulate unverified content. Please verify facts from official sources before posting or forwarding any information. Appropriate legal action will be taken against individuals found spreading rumours or misinformation," it added, reported India Today.

Sahil is not the only protester to suffer serious injuries during the demonstrations. With him is Sheikh Mansoori, 25, a Gurugram resident who has allegedly suffered seven pellet injuries to his face, including to his nose, forehead, both eyes and cheeks.

Opposition steps in

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress on Friday (July 24) said the opposition will jointly raise the alleged use of pellet guns against students during the July 20 police crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Sansad Chalo' march in Parliament, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah be held accountable in the matter.

“Horrifying brutality by the Narendra Modi regime. Proof has now emerged that security forces did fire deadly pellet guns – which can result in blindness – on our unarmed and vulnerable children protesting on the streets and pleading for an accountable examination system,” Ghose said in an X post.