During a CJP protest in Delhi, driver Sahil was struck by more than 150 pellet gun shots, sustaining serious injuries. He recounts the incident, the police’s delayed FIR filing, and glaring security lapses.

  • Sahil suffered severe pellet gun injuries
  • Police delayed filing the FIR for several hours
  • Security gaps during the protest raised serious concerns

Sahil, a taxi driver, told ABP News how a protest against the Chief Justice of India turned into a nightmare when police fired a pellet gun at the crowd. More than 150 small metal pellets hit him, causing eye and chest injuries that required immediate hospitalization.

The incident occurred on March 25 outside the Western Circuit Court in Delhi. Police, claiming crowd‑control, used a pellet gun that released a rapid burst of projectiles. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the volley struck Sahil directly, leaving him with multiple lacerations.

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Despite the severity, the Delhi Police took several hours to register an FIR, citing procedural delays. This lag has left victims like Sahil waiting for legal recourse and has sparked criticism from civil‑rights groups.

The CJP protests began in early 2023, drawing thousands who demand judicial independence. Pellet guns, marketed as “non‑lethal,” have repeatedly sparked controversy due to their potential to cause permanent damage.

Historically, similar incidents have occurred across India. In 2018, Delhi’s anti‑CAA protests saw dozens injured by pellet fire, prompting nationwide debates on crowd‑control policies.

Human‑rights organisations now call for stricter regulations on the use of such weapons, arguing that the current approach compromises public safety and erodes trust in law enforcement.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the unchecked use of pellet guns in civilian protests erodes public trust in law enforcement and raises serious questions about proportionality in crowd‑control tactics.

"The deployment of pellet guns in public demonstrations is a disproportionate response that undermines fundamental human rights," says human‑rights lawyer Anjali Tiwari.
Did You Know?: A 2019 Delhi protest also resulted in multiple pellet‑gun injuries, prompting the Ministry of Home Affairs to review non‑lethal weapon guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How severe can pellet‑gun injuries be? The small metal pellets can penetrate skin, damage eyes, and even break bones, leading to long‑term disability.
  • Why did the police delay filing the FIR? Initial reports were down‑played as minor, causing bureaucratic hold‑ups before the official complaint was recorded.