Rahul Gandhi with Sahil Lochab, one of the victims of the reported use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest, at a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station on August 21, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday (August 21, 2026) staged a dharna (sit-in) outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, seeking the registration of an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a youth during the July 20 Cockroach Janata Party-led protest over the NEET paper leak issue.
Mr. Gandhi is accompanied by Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old protester who was hit by a pellet gun during police action. He suffered pellet injuries to the eyes and abdomen, and later underwent surgery at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.
The Delhi Police have so far barricaded the area and closed the police station gates as Congress party workers and supporters attempted to enter, raising slogans. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also arrived at the station with party workers staging a dharna outside the gates.
“Sahil wants to file FIR, but that is not being allowed. If not Delhi Police, then who? We are only asking for justice for the family,” Mr. Gandhi said, speaking to media outside the police station.
The Congress leader and Mr. Lochab first visited the Mandir Marg police station and sought the registration of the FIR. After the demand was not accepted, they went to the Parliament Street police station and met the deputy commissioner of police (DCP).
‘No I/O number or acknowledgement on complaint’
According to the Congress party, Mr. Lochab had approached the Delhi Police along with his lawyers on August 14 and submitted a written complaint. However, the police allegedly did not provide an I/O number or acknowledgement. The complaint was again pursued on August 17 through email and phone, but no I/O number or acknowledgement was provided, they said.
In line with this, Mr. Gandhi accompanied Mr. Lochab to the DCP office on Friday (August 21, 2026) to press for action and seek registration of the case. “The DCP is again not giving the case officer and I/O number. As it’s a cognisable offence, a FIR also has to be registered, but Delhi police not doing so,” the party said.
Supreme Court says use of pellet guns in ‘exceptional circumstances’ is part of graded police response
According to the complainant, the alleged incident constitutes a cognisable offence and warrants registration of an FIR.
Earlier on July 29, the Congress leader had addressed the media and said that protesting students were fired at with pellet guns and claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible for “brutality” against the protesters.
With PTI inputs
Published – August 21, 2026 01:31 pm IST
