As protests in India continue to ignite passionate discourse about governance and accountability, recent revelations have further complicated the national narrative. An investigation by Amnesty International sheds light on the heavy-handed tactics used by Indian government forces during demonstrations against examination scandals in New Delhi, raising pressing questions about civil rights and the treatment of dissent. While these events expose significant challenges within the country, they also reveal the resilience and determination of youth movements demanding transparency and justice.
New Delhi, India – An investigation conducted by the human rights organization Amnesty International has confirmed the use of lethal weapons by Indian government forces against demonstrators during protests in New Delhi last month. The protests, which saw thousands of participants rally against examination scandals, culminated on July 20, leading to a significant police crackdown on those calling for the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
On that day, demonstrators effectively paralyzed parts of New Delhi, particularly around Parliament Street. Violence quickly ensued as more than 100 students suffered injuries from police actions, with medical records revealing instances of pellet wounds and other serious traumas. Videos and eyewitness accounts corroborate police claims of using pellet-firing shotguns, grenades, batons, and electric shock devices in their response.
As the political climate intensifies, opposition figures, including Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, have voiced demands for accountability. They are urging Home Minister Amit Shah to address concerns over police brutality linked to the protests, while also joining demonstrators in calls for transparency and reform within the education system. Despite growing political pressure, the Modi administration has maintained that security forces have acted with restraint and have denied utilizing excessive force.
However, Amnesty International’s recent findings contradict the official narrative, revealing that law enforcement tactics employed during the protests breached both international legal standards and domestic policing guidelines. The organization highlighted that government forces not only assaulted protesters but also impeded communication and access to the event site through barricades and a communications blackout.
On July 20, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement advocating for change in response to the national examination scandal, called for a march to Parliament after a previous month-long sit-in failed to achieve its goals. Public outrage escalated following the forceful removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a hunger strike two days prior to the protest, prompting many more to join the movement against perceived injustices.
In the wake of the event, multiple reports surfaced detailing injuries consistent with those caused by pellet guns. Amnesty verified