Manish Tewari moves Lok Sabha adjournment notice on pellet gun use against student protesters
Synopsis
Congress MP Manish Tewari has moved a Lok Sabha adjournment notice demanding an urgent debate on the alleged use of pellet guns by RAF personnel against student protesters on July 20 — a march that reportedly left over 80 injured. With a CRPF internal inquiry under way and preliminary findings pointing to at least one personnel firing seven rounds, the episode is fast becoming the Monsoon Session's sharpest accountability flashpoint.
Key Takeaways
Congress MP Manish Tewari submitted a Lok Sabha adjournment motion notice on 28 July 2026 seeking debate on alleged pellet gun use by the RAF .
The July 20 student march to Parliament, held on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, reportedly left over 80 people injured .
A CRPF internal inquiry is under way; findings are expected within the coming week.
Preliminary reports indicate at least one RAF personnel allegedly fired seven rounds , with five reportedly striking protesters.
Delhi Police denied using pellet guns, stating it neither possesses nor deploys them in protest management.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had earlier questioned whether the government authorised the use of such weapons.
Congress MP Manish Tewari on 28 July 2026 submitted a notice for an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, demanding a parliamentary debate on the alleged use of pellet guns by Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel against student protesters during a July 20 march to Parliament. The protest, which took place on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, reportedly left over 80 people injured.
What the Notice Demands
In his notice addressed to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, Tewari called for the suspension of Question Hour, Zero Hour, and all other listed business to allow a full debate on the incident. He described the matter as one of urgent national importance requiring immediate parliamentary intervention.
'I move that this House do suspend Question Hour, Zero Hour and all other listed business of the day to discuss the reported use of pellet guns by the Rapid Action Force against unarmed student protesters during the July 20, 2026 march to Parliament, which left over 80 people injured. Only minimum force should have been used on a peaceful protest, yet excessive force was deployed in violation of citizens' constitutional rights, making immediate parliamentary deliberation on officer accountability and victim compensation essential,' Tewari said in the notice.
The July 20 Protest and What Triggered It
The demonstration was organised by student groups demanding the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks. Police resorted to tear gas and a lathi-charge after violence broke out during the march. While student groups alleged pellet guns were also deployed, Delhi Police denied the claim, stating it neither possesses nor deploys pellet guns during protest management operations.
CRPF Inquiry Under Way
An internal inquiry by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is currently under way to examine the allegations. According to reports citing official sources, the inquiry team is expected to submit its findings within the coming week. Sources familiar with the investigation indicated that at least one RAF personnel has been identified in connection with the alleged pellet firing in Connaught Place. Preliminary findings reportedly suggest that seven rounds were discharged, of which five allegedly struck protesters and two did not.
CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh said a professional post-event assessment would be conducted, as is customary after major operations. Officials added that any further action will depend on the inquiry's conclusions.
Political Pressure Mounts
Earlier reports had indicated that at least four individuals sustained pellet-related injuries, with a government hospital reportedly confirming pellet wounds in one victim. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had questioned whether the government had authorised the use of such weapons. Pellet guns and shock batons are part of the standard equipment available to the RAF, which functions as the specialised riot-control wing of the CRPF.
This comes amid broader opposition pressure during the Monsoon Session, with the Congress seeking to use parliamentary procedures to hold the government accountable on the handling of the student agitation. The outcome of the CRPF inquiry is expected to shape the next round of political and legal responses.
Point of View
But the underlying facts — a CRPF inquiry, preliminary identification of a personnel, and a disputed injury count ranging from four confirmed pellet wounds to over 80 total — reflect a genuine accountability gap. Delhi Police's flat denial that it possesses pellet guns sits awkwardly alongside the CRPF's own internal probe, which implicitly acknowledges the weapons were present. Parliament is the right forum to reconcile these contradictions, and the government's response to the adjournment notice will signal how seriously it takes the constitutional question of proportionate force against civilian protesters.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Manish Tewari's Lok Sabha adjournment motion about?
Congress MP Manish Tewari has filed a Lok Sabha adjournment motion notice seeking an urgent parliamentary debate on the alleged use of pellet guns by Rapid Action Force personnel against student protesters during the July 20, 2026 march to Parliament. He has called for the suspension of Question Hour and Zero Hour to allow a full discussion on officer accountability and victim compensation.
What happened during the July 20 student protest at Parliament?
Student groups marched to Parliament on July 20, 2026 — the opening day of the Monsoon Session — demanding the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination paper leaks. Police used tear gas and a lathi-charge after violence broke out, and the protest reportedly left over 80 people injured. Student groups alleged pellet guns were also used; Delhi Police denied this.
Is there an official inquiry into the pellet gun allegations?
Yes, the Central Reserve Police Force has launched an internal inquiry into the allegations. Preliminary findings reportedly indicate that at least one RAF personnel has been identified in connection with the alleged firing of seven rounds in Connaught Place, five of which allegedly struck protesters. The inquiry team is expected to submit its findings within the coming week.
What has Rahul Gandhi said about the pellet gun use?
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioned whether the government had authorised the use of pellet guns against protesters, after a government hospital reportedly confirmed pellet wounds in at least one victim. At least four individuals were earlier reported to have sustained pellet-related injuries.
What is the Rapid Action Force and does it use pellet guns?
The Rapid Action Force is the specialised riot-control wing of the Central Reserve Police Force. Pellet guns and shock batons are part of its standard equipment inventory, according to officials. Delhi Police, however, has separately stated that it neither possesses nor deploys pellet guns during protest management operations.
