19-year-old may lose vision in right eye due to pellet injury, says family

A 19-year-old protester hit by a pellet gun during police action at the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP)July 20 march to Parliament may lose vision in his right eye, his family said.

Sahil Lochab, a resident of Najafgarh in southwest Delhi, underwent a surgery to remove pellets at the AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre on Tuesday (July 21, 2026). Doctors have informed that there is only a “1% chance” of vision returning in the injured eye as the pupil was damaged, his family said.

Also Read: Jantar Mantar protest LIVE

Mr. Lochab, who wants to join the police, is a student of Delhi University’s School of Open Learning. His mother, Jyoti, said, “He had attended the CJP protests before and went again on Monday (July 20), saying it was important and would help his studies… He always wanted to become a police officer. He is pursuing a distance-learning course while preparing for competitive examinations.”

Ms. Jyoti said that her son will undergo another surgery soon.

Parvesh, a childhood friend of Mr. Lochab, said, “Sahil said he was hit directly in his eye. From what we have been told, a second operation for his pupils will determine whether his vision will return to normal.” He added that Mr. Lochab is not yet able to see and is in a lot of pain.

Mr. Parvesh said his friend “was vocal about education issues” ever since he was a child and has been studying for the Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination.

Just like Mr. Mansoori, Mr. Lochab was taken to LHMC and then transferred to the AIIMS trauma centre.

Though Delhi Police had denied the use of pellet guns, Mr. Lochab’s family said it was told that the injuries were caused by pellets. A hospital source confirmed it.

On Wednesday, The Hindu reported that how pellet guns, technically known as pump action guns, were likely used against protesters on July 20. This was the first known instance of security forces using pellet guns on civilians in Delhi. One of the 80 injured protesters, identified as Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, underwent surgery at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) on Tuesday to remove a metal pellet lodged under his eye.

Mr. Mansoori will undergo another surgery and is likely to be transferred to another hospital with the necessary equipment. A hospital source said the pellets that have injured the two were of metal, not plastic.

Pellets guns and shock-batons are part of the gear of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), the specialised anti-riot unit under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was deployed alongside Delhi Police on July 20 in and around Jantar Mantar. RAF, being a Central force, was deployed at the request of Delhi Police and remained under its operational control at the time of incident.

There has been no response from the CRPF on the use of pellet guns.

Meanwhile, Sakshi, 21, who sustained critical injuries during the protest, was removed from ventilator support after she responded to treatment, as per a statement by Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Wednesday. “She has been successfully extubated (removed from the ventilator) and is now breathing on her own. She is conscious and responding appropriately to commands. Her MRI of the brain and spine is normal,” it said.