The controversy surrounding the alleged deployment of pellet guns during the 'Sansad Chalo' demonstration on July 20, 2026, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has intensified significantly following the disclosure of official medical documentation. The dispute gained fresh momentum after the medico-legal case details of a 25-year-old protester, Sheikh Irshad Mansuri, surfaced, confirming that medical professionals surgically removed metallic foreign bodies from his face and neck. While both the Central Government and the Delhi Police have repeatedly denied the use of pellet guns or lethal munitions against the crowd, these newly revealed hospital records have provided substantial support to the claims made by the demonstrators and rally organizers.
Medical Findings and Extraction of Metal Fragments
Following the chaotic events near Parliament Street on July 20, Sheikh Irshad Mansuri was rushed to Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi with severe physical trauma to his upper body. A specialized team of surgeons at the medical facility evaluated his condition and immediately scheduled an emergency surgical procedure to treat the deep wounds on his face and neck. During the operation, doctors successfully extracted several embedded metallic foreign bodies, commonly referred to as shrapnel or pellet fragments, from the affected tissues.
Upon completing the surgery, the attending medical staff preserved the extracted metallic fragments so they could be subjected to detailed forensic analysis and presented as evidence in ongoing legal proceedings. Although the Medico-Legal Case (MLC) report issued by Lady Hardinge Medical College does not explicitly specify the exact category of firearm used or identify the individual who discharged the weapon, treating physicians and injured rally participants noted that the nature of the embedded particles strongly points toward pellet-based ammunition. The publication of these medical findings has bolstered assertions by demonstrator groups that security forces resorted to unauthorized and excessively harsh crowd-control measures.
Account of the Incident and Personal Testimony
Recounting the ordeal, 25-year-old Sheikh Irshad Mansuri stated that during the protest march toward Parliament, he observed a security personnel member aiming a weapon directly at him. Realizing the danger, Mansuri immediately turned around to flee from the area, but was struck across his neck and face by projectile fragments. Although he was eventually discharged from Lady Hardinge Medical College after receiving surgical care, visible scarring and deep injury marks remain on his face.
The incident occurred as part of a major demonstration organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), during which student activists and youth supporters attempted to march toward the Parliament building to press their demands. To prevent the crowd from breaching security perimeters, officers from the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) intervened, leading to violent confrontations between law enforcement and protesters. Multiple demonstrators sustained injuries during the scuffles, while police officials also reported that several security personnel suffered injuries while attempting to manage the crowd. In recent days, other injured participants have similarly shared their medical records, alleging the presence of metallic particles and pellet injury marks.
Government Response, Police Denials, and Legal Battles
In response to the growing allegations, both the Central Government and the Delhi Police have firmly rejected claims that pellet guns or live ammunition were fired at the crowd. Addressing the issue in the Lok Sabha, government representatives asserted that security forces maintained law and order strictly in accordance with standard operating procedures for crowd management. Official statements highlighted that law enforcement personnel deployed only tear gas canisters to disperse the gathering and maintained that no firearms or pellet weapons were utilized during the operation.
The dispute has now moved to the highest judicial forum in the country. Sheikh Irshad Mansuri is among several petitioners who have filed petitions in the Supreme Court, accusing security forces of using excessive and unprovoked force against citizens participating in the Cockroach Janta Party march. With the emergence of these official medical records, public and legal attention has turned toward the upcoming Supreme Court hearings and the prospect of a formal judicial investigation into the incident.
