Amnesty report alleges excessive force against Indian student protesters

Amnesty International has released a report alleging that Indian police used excessive force, including pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas launchers, grenades, batons, and electric shock devices, against youth-led protests in Delhi and Bihar in July. The report, published on Monday, clashes with police accounts that force was used only after protesters turned violent. It comes after India's Supreme Court set up a panel on August 20 to investigate violence by both police and demonstrators.

The protests, led by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), were sparked by the leak of the national medical entrance test and broadened into a wider movement over unemployment and opportunities for young people. The demonstrations turned violent on July 20 when thousands of protesters attempted to march towards parliament in New Delhi. The protests forced the resignation of then-education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, marking a significant political defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Amnesty said witness testimony and visual evidence it had verified confirmed the use of the weapons. The organization also said it verified two instances of a police officer "unlawfully using lethal force against a crowd" in Bihar's Siwan district, though no one was killed. In one case, a video appeared to show a police officer using an AK-type assault rifle against protesters. Amnesty said the weapons were deployed in a manner that breached international law and standards and domestic policing guidelines.

Police and government respond

Delhi Police have denied using excessive force, telling the Supreme Court that they used force only after protesters "resorted to violence." They said anti-social elements "masquerading as aggrieved students" caused "grievous injuries" to security forces, and that 240 personnel were injured. On social media, Delhi Police called reports of pellet gun use "completely false and misleading."

Bihar Police told the Supreme Court that a constable fired four rounds in the air during the protests in Siwan and that no one was injured. They agreed that the AK-47 is a "platoon-level weapon" used in special operations, not for crowd control, but denied using excessive force.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju has also defended the police. He said cops should be praised for handling the protests "so peacefully" and claimed that "not one" lathi was used. Rijiju said no one died, broke a bone, or got seriously injured, and that criminals joined the agitation under the guise of students. He asked, "Kahan goli chali hai?" (Where were shots ).

Allegations of pellet injuries

Amnesty's report includes accounts of protesters who said they were hit by pellets. One anonymous protester said doctors confirmed his injuries were caused by pellets. A 19-year-old student, Sahil Lochab, lost vision in one eye and had more than 200 pellets in his body, according to a complaint. His complaint stated that doctors told him the possibility of his eyesight returning was less than 1 percent.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said he spoke to two alleged victims, Sahil and Vikas, who were protesting peacefully when they were hit by pellets fired by police. He said Sahil, a political science student, had appeared for the Delhi Police exam in 2025, which he alleged was leaked. Dipke said, "The police and the govt deny brutality, but how do they explain this?"

At least four people have alleged pellet gun injuries: Sheikh Irshad Mansuri, Sahil Lochab, a reporter who did not wish to be named, and Prashant, a 25-year-old Bihar resident. Prashant's discharge paper read "Multiple pellet injuries to the right upper limb, chest and inguinal region." Hindustan Times reported that at least a dozen Rapid Action Force personnel were issued pellet guns on the morning of July 20, but the arms were withdrawn after claims of use. A general diary entry from Parliament Street police station showed that on July 20, 55 Non Electrical shells, 15 Electrical shells, 5 Tear Smoke Grenades, and anti-riot guns with ballistic cartridges and plastic pellets were used.

Political fallout

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside a Delhi police station on August 21 with Sahil Lochab, demanding an investigation. Police later registered a case over the complaint. Gandhi said, "This is a pellet gun… his eye has been damaged, he has lost his vision." He also called on Home Minister Amit Shah to answer questions, arguing that either Shah ordered the use of lethal weapons, making him guilty, or he was unaware, making him incompetent. The opposition demanded a statement from Shah regarding the alleged use of lathis, tear gas, shock batons, and pellet guns. Some opposition leaders alleged that questions raised by parliamentarians are routinely disallowed or left unanswered.

Continuing protests

The protests have continued beyond Delhi. In Patna, Bihar, students and unemployed youth clashed with police as they marched towards the chief minister's residence, demanding jobs and transparency in recruitment exams. Police used water cannons and lathis, and detained at least 25 protesters, who were later released, according to the Indian Express. Patna Police Superintendent Kartikeya K Sharma said action would be taken against those involved in stone pelting. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said his office was "listening to every student's voice," and Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the government had addressed students' demands and the door for dialogue remained "wide open." Similar demonstrations have occurred in other states, including Karnataka.

The Supreme Court has constituted a five-member committee headed by former judge R Subhash Reddy to investigate the violence. The committee's mandate is to look into allegations of violence by both police and demonstrators.