Rahul Gandhi stages sit-in as Delhi police delays FIR over student protester’s pellet injuries
New Delhi : Delhi Police registered an FIR in the case of a 19-year-old student protester only after Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, staged a sit-in at the Parliament Street police station today, demanding acting over pellet injuries suffered by Sahil Lochab during a student protest on July 20.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the police collected Sahil Lochab’s medical report and other related documents and registered the FIR on the basis of his complaint.
Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Lochab, first went to the Mandir Marg police station to seek registration of the FIR. After his demand was not accepted, they went to the Parliament Street police station and met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma. When the meeting failed to resolve the issue, Gandhi and Lochab staged a sit-in at the police station.
Gandhi said brutality against a peaceful protest was a serious crime and questioned why no FIR had been registered over the use of pellet guns. Lochab had approached Delhi Police with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint, but was not given an IO number or acknowledgement.
“After this incident, I was admitted to Lady Hardinge Hospital and from there referred to AIIMS, where I underwent two surgeries. Even after the surgery, I still cannot see clearly from my eye. On August 14, I wrote a seven-page complaint and gave it to my lawyer, but the FIR has not been registered yet,” Sahil Lochab said.
Gandhi showed reporters medical documents from AIIMS and Lady Hardinge Hospital and a container containing metallic pellets, which he said had been recovered from Lochab’s body. He said the medical reports showed that more than 200 pellets were lodged in Lochab’s body, including three in his eye, with pellets also lodged near his heart that doctors could not remove.
Gandhi questioned the police’s denial of using pellet guns during the July 20 protest, asking who was responsible for the injuries if the police had not fired them. He also said that the family had been told that there were “orders from above” preventing the registration of an FIR.
“Sahil wants to file an FIR, but that is not being allowed. If not Delhi Police, then who? We are only asking for justice for the family,” Gandhi said.
Addressing Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, Gandhi said, “Why are you so scared of justice? This fear shows that you are admitting to your crime.”
