Rahul Gandhi sits at Parliament Street police station seeking FIR over July 20 pellet injuries

Rahul Gandhi sat inside Parliament Street police station on Friday with 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, seeking an FIR over the pellet injuries Lochab suffered during the July 20 march to Parliament.

Gandhi first went to Mandir Marg police station with Lochab, then met Central DCP Sachin Sharma at Parliament Street after his request was not accepted there. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior Congress leaders joined the sit-in.

Gandhi said Lochab wanted to register an FIR and alleged that this was not being permitted. He called the use of force against a peaceful protest a serious crime, and criticised the lack of an explanation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah or an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

DCP Sharma said the complaint had been received and proceedings relating to pellet-gun use at the student protest were ongoing. He added that a case on the issue is already before the Supreme Court.

Police and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed around the station, which also houses the New Delhi DCP’s office. Delhi Police had earlier denied using pellet guns, while a general diary entry at Parliament Street police station recorded that the RAF fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the direction of a DCP-rank officer.