New Delhi: The Delhi Police has categorically denied allegations of using pellet guns against protesters during the recent Chalo Sansad march organized by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Dismissing the claims as completely false and misleading, law enforcement officials warned of strict legal action against individuals circulating such unverified content on social media.
The controversy erupted after campaign spokespersons and several social media users shared videos alleging that security forces resorted to firing pellet guns to disperse the agitating crowds. One prominent post featured a video of an injured man receiving hospital treatment, with claims that he sustained pellet wounds during the violent clashes. The massive agitation had previously left dozens of protesters and over a hundred police personnel injured.
In a swift response, the Delhi Police issued an official Fake News Alert on the social media platform X. They clearly stated that reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading. A senior official further clarified that the Delhi Police does not even possess such weaponry in its standard riot control arsenal. The department strongly urged the public to rely exclusively on official sources for verified information and to stop spreading rumors.
Pellet guns are technically classified as non lethal weapons. They are traditionally utilized by specialized paramilitary units like the Rapid Action Force or the Central Reserve Police Force for extreme crowd control situations. These pump action guns fire clusters of small metal bearings meant to penetrate only the skin layer. However, their usage has always remained a highly sensitive and debated issue in India. Historically, they have seen extensive deployment during violent unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. More recently, similar allegations regarding their use surfaced during the farmers protests at the Punjab and Haryana borders.
The situation in the national capital remains highly volatile as thousands of demonstrators continue to camp at Jantar Mantar. The protesters are demanding structural reforms in the national examination system and the immediate resignation of the Union Education Minister following the NEET UG paper leak scandal. Amid the ongoing political slugfest, security forces have heavily barricaded central Delhi to prevent further escalations while maintaining a strict vigil against the spread of provocative misinformation.