Supreme Court probe panel to prioritise use of pellet gun, harassment of female protesters during July 20 march to Parliament

The Supreme Court-appointed panel to investigate the incidents of violence at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and places outside the national capital in July during the NEET paper leak protests will prioritise matters related to the “use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters, and excessive violence and destruction of property occasioned on either side”.

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A statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on behalf of the Supreme Court-constituted High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) said that for the convenience of the affected people, including the affected police personnel, the HPEC has launched a portal — http://hpec.nic.in.

“The HPEC shall examine all issues enumerated in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order dated 18 August 2026 and paragraph 5(i) of order dated 10 September, 2026. Priority will be given to matters pertaining to the use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protestors, and excessive violence and destruction of property occasioned on either side,” the statement said.

The Hindu was the first to report on July 21 that at least one protester was hit by a pellet gun, part of the anti-riot gear of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) during the July 20 march to Parliament called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which turned violent. Later, three more victims said they had been hit by pellets, usually fired from pump action guns.

Subsequently, on July 28, The Hindu reported that though Delhi Police denied the use of pellet guns, a general diary entry filed at Parliament Street police station revealed that the RAF fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer of the police. The demands for answers by the Opposition parties as to who ordered the use of pellet guns during the protests, in which at least 80 protesters were injured, and women were allegedly sexually assaulted by police personnel, led to the disruption of the monsoon session of Parliament.

Protection to vulnerable witnesses

The portal is designed in such a manner as to enable due protection to vulnerable witnesses and also to keep the identities confidential and undisclosed, if so wished by the affected persons. The affected persons and other stakeholders are encouraged to access the portal and upload their complaints/representations making use of the formats as applicable, it said.

“Apart from the above, any person wishing to provide information/suggestion relating to the issues referred to the HPEC under the orders dated 18 August 2026 and 10 September 2026 may also do so through the aforesaid portal. Those who wish to submit the complaints, representations and other relevant material physically, can do so at the office of the HPEC at Shiksha Sadan, 17, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi 110002 between 1400 hrs. and 1600 hrs. on all working days. Submissions can also be sent by post at the above address or by email at hpec2026.enquiry@nic.in.”