20 July 2026. A Parliament march was called from Jantar Mantar in Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. During this time, many people were injured in the clash between police and protesters. After this incident, it is being claimed that pellet guns and shock batons have been used to control the protesters in Delhi. However, Delhi Police has termed these claims as completely false.
On July 21, a video also surfaced in which a woman was seen being made unconscious with a shock baton. A mild electric shock is given with a shock baton. According to the report, this is believed to be the first case of security forces using pellet guns and shock batons on civilians in Delhi. Let us know what the claim of using pellet guns says. We will also understand what are the rules of the Home Ministry regarding pellet gun, why and when it can be used…
What claims have been made in the report?
According to a report in ‘The Hindu’, out of the 80 protesters injured in the police action, one person suffered injuries from a pellet gun. This information has been revealed by quoting a source from Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is undergoing treatment.
- First case: A friend of 25-year-old protester Sheikh Irshad Mansoori told The Hindu that a uniformed Rapid Action Force (RAF) soldier had fired at Mansoori near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place.
- Use of shock baton: The report also claims that on July 21, a video surfaced in which a woman was seen being stunned with a shock baton. Shock baton provides mild electric shock.
- Deploying security forces: Pellet guns and shock batons are part of the gear of the ‘Rapid Action Force’ (RAF), an anti-riot unit under the CRPF. On July 20, RAF was also deployed along with Delhi Police in and around Jantar Mantar.
Condition of the injured and visit of Health Minister
More than 80 protesters and 118 policemen were injured in the clashes, lathicharge and stone pelting that took place at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
- Irshad Mansouri underwent surgery to remove the pellets lodged in his upper body. Shrapnel from under his eyes have been removed, but a shrapnel that was near a blood vessel in the neck has not yet been removed and may require another surgery. Mansoori has about 30-40 injuries on his face and entire body, four of which are very deep.
- Another protester has been shifted to AIIMS due to eye injuries, which are also suspected to have been caused by pellet guns. Apart from this, a 15-year-old protester has been admitted to Kalavati Saran Children’s Hospital and 21-year-old Sakshi has been admitted to the ICU of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in critical condition.
JP Nadda meets the injured
According to The Hindu report, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited the hospital on July 21 afternoon and met Irshad Mansouri. When Nadda asked Mansoori the reason for joining the protest, Mansoori told that he had come there to protest against the problems in the education system. Mansoori is originally from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh and works in a private company in Gurugram.
Delhi Police statement
After these claims gained momentum and the video went viral on social media (X), the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of New Delhi gave a clarification. Releasing a fact check on its official
FACT CHECK
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) July 22, 2026
Police also clarified that Delhi Police neither has pellet gun nor do they use it in the ongoing protests. The public is requested not to share or disseminate any unverified or misleading information. However, CRPF has not commented on this matter.
When is a pellet gun fired?
The Home Ministry has clear rules regarding the use of pellet guns. On March 28, 2017, in response to an unstarred question (No. 4185) in the Lok Sabha, the then Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir had clarified the guidelines related to the use of pellet guns.
- Formation of Expert Committee: The Government of India formed an expert committee on 26 July 2016, with the aim of exploring other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.
- Primary measures to disperse the crowd: Based on the report and recommendations of the committee, the government decided that the security forces would first use other measures to disperse the rioters. These include the use of PAVA-Chilli (shells and grenades), STUN-LAC (shells and grenades) and Tear Smoke Shells.
- Ultimate Alternative to Pellet Gun: According to the rules, only if all the above mentioned measures (like tear gas, Pava-Chili etc.) prove ineffective in dispersing the crowd or rioters, only then pellet guns can be used as an alternative.
When have pellet guns been used before?
The use of pellet guns for crowd control in India has always been controversial. It has been seen used on several occasions before:
- Farmers Movement (2024): The use of pellet guns came to light during the farmers’ demonstration at Khanauri and Shambhu border on the Punjab-Haryana border. Although even then the police had denied its use, but farmer leaders had claimed that many people were injured by it.
- Manipur violence (2023): In Manipur, which is struggling with ethnic conflict, pellet guns were also used against the protesters, after which a lot of public anger was seen.
- Jammu and Kashmir (2016): Pellet guns were used extensively during the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016. In this action, hundreds of people lost their eyesight partially or completely, after which the government had to consider its options. The use of pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir started in 2010.
Also read: Demand for hearing against lathicharge, CJI said – don’t waste our time
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