Rahul Gandhi Presses Amit Shah Over Pellet‑Gun Use on Delhi Students FAST-MOVING
On July 20 2026, a large protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party at Jantar Mantar demanded reforms to the NEET‑UG examination after a paper‑leak controversy. Security forces responded with pellet guns, lathi‑charges and tear‑gas shells, injuring dozens. Nineteen‑year‑old student Sahil Lochab was hit in the eye by a pellet and may lose vision; women demonstrators were also reported to have been assaulted, some reportedly in their private parts.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah asking who authorised the use of lethal force, including the pellet guns, and whether the plain‑clothes men seen beating protesters with lathis were police or volunteers. He demanded accountability and an apology.
Following the crackdown, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25. The Lok Sabha was adjourned after opposition MPs protested the police action and filed notices for urgent debate. The government plans to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill 2026, aimed at tightening penalties for exam paper leaks. The Cockroach Janata Party has also called for the release of detained protesters across several states.
Entities: Amit Shah · Cockroach Janata Party · Delhi · Delhi Police · Delhi Police / Rapid Action Force · Dharmendra Pradhan · Rahul Gandhi · Sahil Lochab · Trinamool Congress
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 20 SOURCES] Gandhi asked who authorized deployment of plain‑clothes individuals beating protesters with lathis. (All articles)
- [● 20 SOURCES] 19‑year‑old student Sahil Lochab was struck by a pellet and may lose an eye. (Sahil Lochab)
- [● 20 SOURCES] The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janata Party over a NEET‑UG paper‑leak controversy. (Cockroach Janata Party)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding accountability for police action on July 20 2026 protests in Delhi. (belonging to all listed articles)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Women protesters were assaulted, including targeted attacks on their private parts. (8bd383aa-2f27-4974-bc85-08787c89116d, 86e652a9-5ccf-4a61-87d0-571df1e01532, 61c7c922-3420-457e-8fea-acf4637a128f)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Security forces employed pellet guns, lathi‑charges and tear‑gas shells against the student demonstrators. (Security forces)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Gandhi queried whether Amit Shah personally approved the use of lethal force, including pellet guns. (All articles)
- [● 20 SOURCES] Opposition parties plan to raise the issue in Parliament, with the Trinamool Congress moving a notice for discussion. (All articles)
- [● 10 SOURCES] Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding accountability for the police action on July 20 2026 at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. (Rahul Gandhi)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Plain‑clothes men seen beating students with lathis prompted Gandhi to ask who authorised their deployment.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Congress and Trinamool Congress moved adjournment and suspension‑of‑business notices in Parliament to discuss the incident.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Women protesters were allegedly assaulted, including targeted attacks on private parts.