NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that police are “empowered to use pellet guns in exceptional situations” while directing the Centre to preserve the ammunition log of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed at Jantar Mantar.The court’s observation comes at a time when allegations of pellet gun use against NEET protesters during the CJP-led student protest on July 20 have escalated into a political potboiler in Parliament.A Bench of CJI Surya Kant, and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also directed the Delhi government to provide adequate treatment to those protesters who were injured by alleged firing of pellet guns.The bench also observed that when in extreme violent situations police are permitted to use bullets if violence does not get controlled by lathicharge and tear gas, how can they be barred from using pellet guns if a protest, which has turned violent after being hijacked by miscreants for ulterior purposes. The court said all injured persons during protests should be given proper treatment.The top court, however, questioned petitioner and ex-IPS offier Yashovardhan Azad for seeking ban on use of pellet guns against protesters.Meanwhile, a CRPF post-event analysis has said that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and anti-riot drills were followed during the July 20 police action against anti-NEET leak protesters, which included the authorised use of “non-lethal” means like pellet gun. CRPF sources told TOI that upon carefully examining the response of its anti-riot unit, Rapid Action Force, it is evident that force gradient was followed, with pump action gun being used only after lower-grade measures like public announcements for crowd dispersal, tear gas and lathicharge failed to effectively control the mob.
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Around 3-5 protesters were injured by the metal pellets. Also, 47 RAF personnel were injured, with six sustaining head injuries. Moreover, CRPF director general G P Singh came forward to support all his troops taking decisions and actions in bona fide discharge of their duties.Addressing personnel at CRPF investiture ceremony coinciding with its Raising Day Monday, Singh said, “As DG of CRPF, I want to assure each one of you that whether it is an operational battalion or law-and-order unit, whatever decisions you carry out in the bona fide discharge of your duties and which are aligned with interests of the public, the force and the nation, I shall take responsibility for all those decisions and actions. Continue to perform your duties fearlessly. Wherever responsibility or accountability needs to be taken, I will take as the director general”.
