Pellet gun usage: Major incidents that shaped the crowd-control debate

The Rapid Action Force’s (RAF) unwarranted use of pellet guns on protesters during the July 20, 2026, Parliament march has invited a barrage of scrutiny and criticism regarding its actions. The recent incident has sparked fresh tensions over the alleged use of pellet guns on civilians, with Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation.

On July 29, 2026, Union Minister Jitendra Singh refuted the allegations, claiming that “utmost restraint” was observed during the protest. A similar stance was reiterated by the Delhi Police, denying any use of pellet guns during the Sansad march.

LoP Rahul Gandhi, along with a victim of alleged pellet gun firing, during a students protest march carried out by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), in New Delhi on July 20, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

However, an exclusive report accessed by The Hindu found a general diary entry filed at the Parliament Street Police Station, recording the discharge of two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer. So far, four people have suffered serious injuries in connection with the use of pellet guns. Of these, one 19-year-old protester, currently being treated at AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre, is at risk of losing vision in his right eye.

Pellet guns have been one of the most contentious crowd-control weapons in India, tracing their roots to their first use in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent civil unrest. While pellet guns are back in the spotlight, here is a list of past events that sparked massive controversy over their usage for crowd control:

2010: Birth of pellet guns in Kashmir unrest

The controversial pellet guns were introduced into India’s crowd-control arsenal in 2010 during one of the tense phases in Jammu and Kashmir. Protests erupted across the State due to the Machil fake encounter case and the death of teenager Tufail Mattoo. Security forces faced continued instances of pelting of stones; in response, the police resorted to blatant armed action, leading to the deaths of more than 100 civilians.

This led to severe criticism over the use of live ammunition. The CRPF, taking cognisance of their actions, introduced the 12-bore pump-action shotgun, which fires cartridges containing hundreds of small metal pellets. CRPF officers claimed that this mechanism was developed as a mitigated response to violent mobs, to be deployed only after other crowd-control measures had failed.

2016: Burhan Wani protest

The encounter with Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016, triggered one of the largest uprisings in Kashmir against state action. The agitated crowd retaliated with months of protests, leading to instances of violent clashes with security forces. This prompted an overwhelming response involving the use of pellet guns by security forces, who justified their usage due to the violent crowd. Later, public sentiment against pellet guns turned hostile, as the ophthalmology department at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital saw an unusual rise in the number of patients with pellet injuries.

Surgeons explained cases involving damaged eyeballs, retinal tears, multiple pellets embedded in the eye, and complete loss of vision. Hundreds required emergency surgeries, while many were left permanently blind in one or both eyes. Doctors treating the victims described an “epidemic of dead eyes.”

2018: Shopian protest

On April 1, 2018, fiery protests broke out in Shopian and Anantnag during the byelections for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. The public demonstrations were a result of several civilians being killed during anti-militancy operations. Security personnel responded with pellet guns to curb the violent protests.

Hospitals in South Kashmir reported dozens of pellet injuries, with many victims sustaining serious eye wounds. The incident reignited the controversy, as it came nearly two years after the Union government had promised to minimize pellet-gun use and explore alternatives such as PAVA shells.

2018: Hiba Jan case

In November 2018, security forces fired pellet bullets during a security operation, causing severe eye injuries to a 19-year-old child. The doctors claimed that the child may risk losing permanent vision despite multiple surgeries. The case reignited widespread criticism due to the vicious nature of the ammunition, which leads to permanent organ damage in civilians.”