The leader of the Opposition sat in a dharna after Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old who lost his eyesight after being hit by pellets during the protest, said the police had refused to register an FIR on his complaint
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Sahil Lochab show the FIR copy after Delhi Police registered an FIR on Sahil Lochab’s complaint as he had suffered pellet gun injuries during the Jantar Mantar students’ protest, in New Delhi on Friday (August 21, 2026). Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi also present.
Following a seven-hour dharna (sit-in) by the Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, outside the office of New Delhi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, police registered an FIR against the use of pellet guns on protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament.
Also read | 19-year-old may lose vision in right eye due to pellet injury, says family
Mr. Gandhi sat in the dharna after Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old who lost his vision in one eye after being hit by pellets during the protest, said the police had refused to register an FIR on his complaint.
The Congress leader, accompanied by his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other senior Congress leaders, ended the sit-in after the police relented.
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Mr. Lochab said he had written a seven-page complaint as soon as he was discharged from the hospital and went to various police stations to get an FIR registered. “But the police did not acknowledge my complaint. I have been trying to get an FIR registered first at Connaught Place, then at Mandir Marg, Sansad Marg and even the Crime Branch but to no avail,” he said.
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