Rahul Gandhi confronted Delhi Police over the alleged use of pellet guns during student protests, demanding an FIR into injuries suffered by Sahil Lochab, whom he said was hit while carrying the national flag.
BY PC Bureau
August 21, 2026: Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday confronted Delhi Police over the alleged use of pellet guns against student protesters, arriving at the Parliament Street police station with 19-year-old victim Sahil Lochab and his mother and demanding that an FIR be registered.
Gandhi refused to leave the police station after officers declined to accept the complaint, pointing to the Supreme Court-constituted High-Powered Expert Committee (HPEC), which is examining allegations of excessive force during the protests. He subsequently sat on a dharna outside the office of a senior police officer along with Lochab and his mother.
“We stand for students. We stand for justice. We will not be silent. Dharna at DCP office till FIR is filed,” the Congress said in a post on X as the protest continued.
VIDEO | Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sits on dharna at Parliament Street police station, demands registration of FIR over pellet injuries during July 20 protest.#RahulGandhi
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/ETNtIehkMk
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 21, 2026
READ: Imran Khan Back to Jail After Check-Up at Islamabad Hospital
The confrontation comes amid Gandhi’s sustained demand for accountability over what he has described as a “barbaric assault” on peaceful student demonstrators. He had earlier written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking answers on who authorised the deployment of pellet guns and whether the Home Ministry had approved the use of what he called “lethal force”.
Gandhi had brought Lochab into the spotlight in July, presenting the teenager to the media and alleging that he was struck by pellets while carrying the national flag during the July 20 march towards Parliament. Gandhi had also lifted Lochab’s T-shirt before the media to show the injuries the teenager had suffered.
MASSIVE BREAKING 🤯
Rahul Gandhi at Parliament Street Police Station with his legal team to file an FIR over pallet gun attack on Gen-Z students
He is currently protesting at the PS as the Police refused to file FIR
This man is simply unstoppable. Be scared Amit Shah 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NrwBTdcs0R
— Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) August 21, 2026
The latest protest puts the spotlight once again on the role of the HPEC and the question of whether the committee’s ongoing inquiry can prevent the registration of a separate criminal complaint over the alleged use of force against protesters.
The standoff also raises a broader question over police accountability during large-scale protests, particularly when allegations involve weapons capable of causing serious injury. Gandhi has argued that the existence of an ongoing inquiry should not stop the police from recording a complaint and investigating the circumstances surrounding Lochab’s injuries.
