SC-appointed panel to hear public evidence on pellet gun use, harassment of female protesters at Jantar Mantar

The Supreme Court-appointed panel probing the alleged violence during the July Jantar Mantar protests will hear affected persons and record evidence on the alleged use of pellet guns and harassment of female protesters during a two-day sitting on October 29 and 30.

The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) will conduct proceedings from 11 am onwards at its office at Shiksha Sadan, 17 Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, officials said on Saturday.

Members of the public and anyone affected by the violence can visit the committee between 11.30 am and 3 pm on both days to submit complaints, representations or evidence, provided they carry valid identity documents.

The committee will examine allegations of pellet gun use, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters, along with instances of excessive force and property damage on both sides, officials said.

Chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy, the five-member panel was constituted by the apex court while hearing petitions alleging police excesses against student protesters during the agitation spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The petitions also involved counter-allegations of violence against police personnel.

The panel comprises former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla, and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L R Bishnoi.

To facilitate wider participation and protect vulnerable witnesses, the committee has launched an online portal, hpec.nic.in. Affected persons, witnesses and stakeholders can access prescribed formats on the portal to upload statements, representations and supporting documentary evidence.

"The online portal has been developed in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions to safeguard the interests of vulnerable witnesses and facilitate the submission of material by affected persons and other concerned stakeholders," a public notice issued earlier had said.

The Supreme Court has directed the HPEC to provide full protection to vulnerable witnesses, keep their identities confidential and maintain utmost secrecy regarding the statements and evidence submitted by them.

The CJP-led march to Parliament on July 20 witnessed violent clashes between security personnel and demonstrators. Police used tear gas shells and baton charges to disperse the crowd, while some students were admitted to hospitals with injuries arising from the possible use of pellet guns.

The student-led agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and spread across several cities. It was called off on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.