Amnesty documents unlawful, deadly force against CJP protests in India
Watchdog’s Evidence Lab verifies use of pellet guns, grenades, shock devices
New Delhi: Amnesty International has documented unlawful and potentially deadly use of force by Indian police against protesters during the Cockroach Janata Party-led “Chalo Sansad” demonstrations in Delhi and Bihar, saying not a single Delhi police officer has been held accountable a month after the crackdown.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Amnesty’s Evidence Lab verified 17 videos from Delhi and two from Siwan, Bihar, documenting the use of pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas, grenades, batons and electric-shock devices against protesters between July 20 and 24.
Amnesty said video and photographic evidence showed an officer of the Rapid Action Force firing a shotgun into a crowd in central Delhi, while protesters sustained injuries consistent with birdshot. One injured protester reportedly suffered 25 to 30 pellet wounds. The organisation said birdshot was inherently inaccurate and unsuitable for law enforcement because of its risk of serious injury.
The rights body also verified footage showing tear-gas grenades being fired directly towards protesters and police and RAF personnel beating apparently peaceful demonstrators, including a child, with long batons. It further documented an RAF officer using an electric-shock baton against a protester and plain-clothes men beating demonstrators while uniformed officers failed to intervene.
In Siwan, Amnesty verified footage of a state police officer firing an AK-type rifle towards protesters. It said such firearms may only be used as an absolute last resort against an imminent threat to life or serious injury and found no evidence of such a threat in the footage examined.
Amnesty said authorities had also imposed an internet shutdown, barricades, transport restrictions and prohibitory orders around the protests. It maintained that isolated incidents of stone-throwing did not justify the broad use of force documented in its investigation.
Delhi Police denied using disproportionate force and described its handling of the protests as professional, but Amnesty said its evidence contradicted the police account. The organisation called for prompt, impartial and effective investigations and prosecution of officers responsible.
Amnesty’s findings also recalled the long-documented use of pellet-firing shotguns by Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir, including cases of serious injuries and blindness, underscoring concerns over the continued use of excessive force against civilians by Indian security personnel.
