Trinamool Congress seeks detailed information about pellet gun use by CRPF's Rapid Action Force during Delhi protests, but the request is denied under RTI. A subsequent investigation reveals potential instances of pellet gun usage.
On Monday, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Saket Gokhale revealed that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) declined to share detailed information about its ammunition log and the use of pellet guns allegedly by its Rapid Action Force during youth protests in Delhi on July 20. Gokhale had sought this information under the Right to Information Act (RTI).
The CRPF, which includes the Rapid Action Force, is among the security and intelligence organisations exempted from the Right to Information Act under Section 24. However, the exemption does not apply to information pertaining to allegations of corruption or human rights violations.
Gokhale contended in his application that the details he sought on the use of pellet guns fell under this exception as they pertained to alleged human rights violations. He had sought a certified copy of the ammunition log and the muster of the RAF contingents deployed in central Delhi on July 20, showing the ammunition drawn, ammunition expended and quantity of each type of munition fired, including pellet, plastic-pellet cartridges and tear smoke shells on the date.
The RTI response from the CRPF that Gokhale shared on social media said that the ‘allegations made in the application do not attract the exemption relating to violation of human rights’. The force added in its reply: ‘The information sought by you pertains to operational and security-related matters of the force.’
Commenting on the response, Gokhale said: ‘CRPF claims use of pellet guns on protestors in Delhi is NOT a human rights violation…In any civilised democracy, this is a shocking argument to make.’
It is important to note that the July 20 march to Parliament had been organised over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. Thousands of protesters participated in the march. Several demonstrators were injured after security personnel used lathis and fired tear gas and pellet guns to disperse the crowd.
The police had initially denied firing pellet guns at protesters during the agitation. However, a Right to Information response showed that 10 persons had been treated for pellet injuries at government hospitals.
In an investigation by The Indian Express, unidentified officials revealed that a person from the CRPF deployed in Connaught Place fired at least seven rounds from his pellet gun on July 20. While five rounds hit protesters, two struck the ground. This information was reported by the newspaper.
On August 21, the Delhi Police filed a first information report based on a complaint by a student named Sahil Lochav, who was injured by pellet gun fire during the youth protest. The case was filed hours after a sit-in protest by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Source:
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