'They were hitting indiscriminately': Students recount Jantar Mantar police action to Rahul Gandhi

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday met students who were part of the protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar last month, with several of them recounting their experiences during the police action on July 20.

Gandhi shared a video of the interaction on X and praised the students for continuing to raise their concerns. He said their voices “cannot be silenced”.

“The courage and resilience with which India's youth have stood firm against Modi ji's violent regime, demanding accountability, is commendable. They raised their voices with peace, love, and humor,” Gandhi wrote.

“I am proud of every single young person—especially the girls who faced the BJP goons' misbehavior, verbal abuse, and violence, even being forced to apologize to the Prime Minister. But now their voices cannot be silenced,” he added.

Students recount alleged police action

During the interaction, one student alleged that police personnel called the protesters “traitors” and assaulted him during the crackdown.

“The policemen kept saying ‘all of you are traitors,” the student said. “The cops kept hitting me on my knee, they hit me at least seven times. I told them to hit me on my back instead but they did not listen,” he added.

Another student alleged that she was injured by a pellet during the chaos.

“My ear lobe was cut and hanging. There was a lot of bleeding. I underwent a two-hour surgery but was discharged just 15 minutes later. I needed some rest but they asked me to leave,” she said.

Questions over pellet use

The allegations come amid conflicting accounts over whether pellets were used during the July 20 police action.

Five people had earlier alleged that they suffered pellet injuries during the incident. A statement by a Rapid Action Force deputy commander, recorded in a general diary entry at Parliament Street police station, reportedly said that at least two rounds of pellets were used on orders of a Delhi Police deputy superintendent.

However, it remains unclear whether metallic or plastic pellets were involved. The government has maintained that no firing took place that day.

A third student alleged that security personnel also used abusive language and carried out an indiscriminate lathi-charge.

“The forces hurled abuses at me. They used some of the filthiest words. How can Prime Minister Narendra Modi say that the students abused him?” the student said.

Students raise questions over 'forgiveness'

The protesters also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to forgive youngsters accused of abusing him and his late mother during the demonstrations.

One student alleged that 15-year-old Ruchika Singh, who had been booked over abusive language against Modi, was threatened into apologising.

The student also alleged inappropriate use of force by a police officer, saying, “The way a cop hit me with the batons, that is pure sexual assault.”

There was no immediate response from Delhi Police to that allegation when the report was filed.

“If this is how they are treating me, who am I supposed to go to for my protection?” the student said.