Three students sustained severe injuries during protests at Delhi’s Jantar Marti, with their conditions now casting doubt on police claims that no pellet guns were fired. Sibiral, 19, a final-year student at Delhi University, suffered a pellet-eye injury that left doctors fearing permanent blindness. His mother, Jyoti, stated the pellet struck his eye after he raised the Tricolor, causing rapid bloodshot facial injuries and requiring urgent surgery. With only a 1% chance of visual recovery, Sibiral’s case highlights the urgency of the situation.
And while Delhi police firmly deny using pellet guns, medical records and survivor testimonies conflict sharply with their statements. Ireshad Masood, 25, sustained two pellet injuries during the same protest. According to his friend, a bullet hit his left eye socket, one was extracted via surgery, but another remains lodged in his neck. Ireshad, who works for a private firm, attended the protest after a shift at Cantonment. The scenario raises questions about how allegations hold up against official statements.
But a third incident involving a journalist adds another layer of complexity. Media reporter Mehedi alleged a “security personnel” threw a pellet-like object at them during a “Sasd Mach march” coverage. Medical records show puncture wounds on Mehedi’s hands, with photos published alongside the claims. However, no independent verification of this particular account has been provided by authorities.
Civil society groups have criticized the police stance as dismissive of documented injuries, especially as Sibiral’s case involves life-threatening risks. Vipin Gupta, a human rights activist, noted that “Visiting ocular trauma in such circumstances requires urgent medical review.” Despite this, Delhi police spokesperson Vijayesh Mankotra reiterated that “no pellet guns were deployed,” emphasizing the use of non-lethal crowd-control measures. The truth may emerge as authorities complete ballistics investigations.
The situation has drawn parallels to past protests where pellet injuries sparked national outrage. Over 100 similar cases were reported during 2021’s farm laws demonstrations, though Delhi’s response has been distinct in its consolidation of allegations. With three distinct injury profiles now under scrutiny, the city’s law-and-order machinery faces renewed public skepticism over its transparency.
