Rahul Gandhi stages sit-in outside Delhi police office over student's pellet injury FIR

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in protest outside the Deputy Commissioner of Police office at Parliament Street police station in New Delhi on Friday, demanding immediate registration of an FIR in the pellet gun injury case of student Sahil Lochab. Gandhi sat on the ground alongside the 19-year-old victim and declared, "We will not move from this dharna until you register the FIR."

The case dates back to July 20, 2026, when pellet guns were allegedly used during a student protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Sahil Lochab was injured in the incident, and medical reports from AIIMS and Lady Hardinge Hospital reveal he has over 200 pellets lodged in his body, including three in his eye. Doctors have warned that vision in one eye is at serious risk, and some pellets near his heart cannot be safely removed. Despite filing a written complaint on August 14 and follow-up attempts via email and phone on August 17, police neither registered an FIR nor provided an investigation officer number or official acknowledgement.

Gandhi met with New Delhi DCP Sachin Sharma and Joint Commissioner Noopur Prasad for approximately 40 to 45 minutes, but when no FIR was registered, he sat down on the ground outside the office. He was joined by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kumari Shailja, Salman Khurshid, Jairam Ramesh, and other Congress leaders. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed at the site.

Speaking to the media, Gandhi said, "Police officers told us they have received orders from above, so they cannot register the FIR. A crime has been committed. Sahil wants justice. We will not leave until the FIR is registered." He also targeted Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning why he was afraid of justice. Delhi Police stated the complaint has been accepted and will be forwarded to the Crime Branch, which is already investigating other cases from the July 20 protest. Police added that a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee is also examining the matter. Congress has termed the incident a violation of constitutional and civil rights, while BJP leaders have dismissed Gandhi's protest as political theatrics despite the ongoing Supreme Court committee inquiry.