Several RAF jawans issued pellet guns for July 20 CJP protest, finds internal inquiry: Report

An internal inquiry into allegations of the use of disproportionate force and the firing of pellet guns by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) on students at the protest in Delhi against the paper leak issue has found that at least a dozen RAF personnel were issued pellet guns on the morning of July 20 before heading to the protest site.

A Hindustan Times report quoting sources privy to the internal inquiry said that the RAF stopped using the pellet guns from July 23 after allegations surfaced that they were used against the protesters in Delhi.

5 injured, Oppn demands accountability

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has launched the inquiry amid uproar by the Opposition in Parliament demanding accountability from the government and justice for those injured in the pellet gun firings – one of the victims has been hit in the eye and risks losing it. While some reports say four people were injured in pellet gun firing at the march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 20, others peg it at five. A bunch of petitions have also been filed in the Supreme Court against the alleged use of brute force on protesters in Delhi on July 20.

Also read: Ex-cop, victims of CJP march crackdown move SC for decommissioning of pellet guns

The RAF is a specialised wing of the CRPF trained for riot and crowd control, and was deployed in Delhi to manage the massive protests by students demanding the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Pellet guns, a non-lethal deterrent, along with tear gas, rubber bullets and smoke grenades, are part of the RAF’s crowd control tools.

The HT report says at least five people sustained pellet gun injuries during the protest – 25-year-old Sheikh Irshad Mansuri, an employee with a private firm, Nootan Toppo, a 32-year-old woman from Gurugram, Prashant Singh, a 28-year-old reporter, a 25-year-old resident of Bihar, and Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old aspiring to join the police force who was hit in the eye.

‘Likely more than one officer fired’

In the internal inquiry, a CRPF inspector leading a RAF team in the Outer Circle of Connaught Place near Pallika Bazar has reportedly denied issuing any order to fire the pellet guns.

An official, however, told HT that it is possible that more than one officer fired the pellet gun on July 20 afternoon and that the personnel doing so in the RAF inspector’s team have been identified.

“It is possible more than one officer fired the pellet gun that afternoon. The personnel in the RAF inspector’s team have been identified. The post-assessment report submitted to headquarters will name the officer to whom the pump action guns were issued along with the specific number of cartridges containing pellets. There are also deviations, including personnel not firing below the wait,” the official told HT.

Also read: No justification for AK-47 on students, says ex-BSF officer

The officer, however, was confident that no pellet guns were issued on 23, 24 and 25^th of July and that they won’t be issued for any future protests by students unless the protesters themselves are armed.

One order came from DCP-rank officer: RAF entry

The Hindu, quoting a general diary filed at Parliament Street police station has said that the RAF fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer of the police department. The general diary entry was reportedly registered at 1.24 am on July 20 by the RAF.

The diary says that the RAF deputy commandant fired 55 rounds of non-electrical shells, 15 rounds of electrical shells, five tear-smoke granites, and two rounds using ballistic cartridges with plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun on the orders of the DCP.

Why pellet guns were used?

The RAF team under probe was reportedly posted near the Grand Charkha installation above Delhi’s Pallika Bazar on the road leading to Jantar Mantar from the Connaught Place Circle, between 1 pm and 5 pm.

Another officer privy to the RAF inquiry told HT that a personnel has told investigators that the pellet gun was fired after a Delhi Police team was hit by stones and people in the crowd pelted stones at the police and RAF personnel.

“The RAF team also told their seniors they had to escalate their response because Parliament was in session and protesters were set to march towards the Parliament Complex,” the second officer said.

‘Personnel deviated from SOP’

Inspector General of RAF, Seema Dhundia is yet to submit a report to the CRPF headquarters. She reportedly held two separate meetings on July 23 and 24, with her officers within the RAF and another with the CRPF top brass.

The second official told HT that the review meeting found that the CRPF personnel had deviated from their standard operating protocol. The revelation had led to orders to all CRPF and RAF personnel to attach their name tags to their uniforms from July 24.

Also read: RAF identifies personnel linked to alleged pellet gun firing in Delhi protest: Report

“During the review meeting, the team also found that many personnel were giving interviews on the ground or posting on their social media accounts. This is against service rules,” the second official said.

CRPF backs jawans who made bona fide calls

Meanwhile, the top brass of CRPF assured the force's jawans and officers that any decision they made for the "bona fide" discharge of their duties in the recent past will have their support, officials said on Monday.

A communication in this regard has been sent to the field formations of the country's largest paramilitary force, which handles various internal security duties including riot and crowd control.

According to PTI, the top brass of CRPF have underlined and stressed that any decision made by the troops and ground officers in the interest of the nation, the force and for the bona fide discharge of their duties will have the headquarters' support.

Also read: Rahul presents student injured by pellet gun, calls Pradhan 'criminal education minister'

Needless to say, any reckless or unjustified action by the personnel will face disciplinary action as stipulated in the CRPF's rules and law of the CRPF, the officials added.

Officials reiterated that a formal Court of Inquiry (CoI) will begin once the RAF/CRPF probe establishes that the troops' actions last week in Delhi were unjustified or violated standard operating procedures (SOPs).

"Now, since agitation has been called off, and assembled people have dispersed, we would make a professional post-event assessment, like we do after every major assignment, and then let you know the view of the Force Hq (headquarters)," CRPF Director General (DG) G P Singh said.

What CRPF says about probe

Asked if the force had determined if any pellet guns were used against protestors on July 20, officials said the ongoing probe is "comprehensively" examining the conduct of the RAF and CRPF jawans, field company commanders, and some superior officers, and is recording their statements in this context.

The probe is specifically taking into account about 9-10 allegations depicted against RAF/CRPF personnel in multiple social media videos and press reports, in addition to instances where a few jawans were left stranded and attacked by miscreants.

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

The officials said they are examining the circumstances under which pellet guns and shock batons were reportedly used. They said the decision to use a weapon of choice rests solely with the jawan on the ground, but that decision must be justified and based on rationale.