At least one of the 80 protesters injured in police action during the Monday (July 20, 2026) march to Parliament called by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) sustained pellet gun injuries, according to a source at Lady Hardinge Medical College, where the victim is undergoing treatment.
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A friend of Shaikh Irshad Mansoori (25), the protester, told The Hindu that Mr. Mansoori was hit near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place by a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan in uniform.
This appears to be the first known instance of security forces using pellet guns on civilians in Delhi. A video of a woman being stunned by a shock baton also emerged on Tuesday (July 21). This is also the first known case of shock batons, which emanate mild electric shock, being used in Delhi.
Pellet guns and shock batons are part of the RAF’s gear, the anti-riot unit under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which was deployed alongside Delhi Police on Monday (July 20) in and around Jantar Mantar during the protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
While the CRPF did not comment, in response to a video shared by CJP’s Saurav Das on X showing Mr. Mansoori’s wounds, Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, said, “Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading. The public is strongly advised not to share or circulate unverified content. Please verify facts from official sources before posting or forwarding any information.”
Used against farmers
The pellets fired from guns, which penetrate the skin when sprayed from a distance, were last known to have been used during the 2024 farmers’ protest at Khanauri and Shambhu border along the Punjab-Haryana boundary. Though the police had denied the use of pellet guns then, farm leaders had alleged that several persons were injured. In 2023, the guns were used against protesters in ethnic-strife torn Manipur leading to a huge public outrage. In the past, pellet guns have been used in Jammu & Kashmir during the 2016 unrest leaving several people partially or fully blind.
When protest meets crackdown: Cockroach Janta Party protest in pictures
Personnel with ‘Nagaland Armed Police’ badge amid CJP protests on July 20, 2026.
CJP Protesters and police personnel get into a scuffle in New Delhi.
A police personnel looks on as protesters jam the streets as part of the CJP protest.
CJP Protester alleges police brutality on a video recorded on his phone.
Police personnel cleans a broken bus outside Janpath Metro Gate 3, in the evening of the CJP protest.
Protester after the CJP protest on July 20, 2026.
Graffiti near Jantar Mantar on the day of the CJP protest in New Delhi.
Heavy police deployment witnessed across Delhi during the CJP protest.
Delhi Police car broken and overturned outside Janpath metro, New Delhi.
People, including CJP protesters, inside the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, during the CJP protest, New Delhi.
Poster saying ‘we will stay silent no longer,” near Kerala House, New Delhi on the night of the CJP protest.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke cries in a gathering of protesters outside Kerala House, New Delhi.
Protesters rebuilding the stage at Jantar Mantar on the night of July 20, 2026 following widespread protests..
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More injuries
During the day, Mr. Mansoori underwent surgery to remove the pellets lodged in the upper part his body. “His surgery was successful and the pellets below his eyes were removed, but one in his neck could not be removed as it was close to a blood vessel. He might require another surgery for the same,” the source said.
According to a source at the hospital, the number of injured increased through the evening and went up to 83, which included both civilians and police officers. The source added that another protester was shifted to AIIMS with an eye injury, which was also likely due to pellets. A protester, aged 15, who sustained other injuries, was shifted to Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital.
At noon on Tuesday (July 21), Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda visited the hospital and met Mr. Mansoori. A friend who was signing off on his hospital consent forms said, “There are around 30-40 injuries on his face and all over his body. According to doctors, four of them, including one in the neck, penetrated deeply, which is why he is undergoing surgery.”
Originally from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Mansoori works at a private company in Gurugram and was attending the protests in solidarity. He had some visa-related work in New Delhi, which he was supposed to finish after the protest on Monday (July 20).
The friend added that when Mr. Nadda visited the hospital and asked him why he was at the protest venue, Mr. Mansoori told him that “issues in the education system” had brought him there.
Other than Mr. Mansoori, a 21-year-old woman, Sakshi, who was severely injured in police action, was admitted in a critical condition at the intensive care unit of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Her family members said she was conscious and in better condition than a day ago. Doctors declined to comment on the nature of her injuries.
Published – July 21, 2026 11:10 pm IST
