India police used excessive force during protests, Amnesty says

Demonstrations in New Delhi over the leak of the national medical entrance test erupted in violence on July 20, as thousands of youth-led protesters marched towards the parliament building. Indian police utilized excessive force, including electric shock devices, pellet guns, tear gas launchers, grenades, batons, and other weaponry, against the demonstrators, according to Amnesty International.

The rights group's report, based on witness testimony and visual evidence, confirms the use of these weapons against protesters in Delhi and the eastern state of Bihar. Amnesty also verified two instances of police officers unlawfully using lethal force against a crowd in Bihar's Siwan district. No deaths were reported. The police deployed these weapons in a manner that violated international law, standards, and domestic policing guidelines, the organization added.

While there were isolated incidents of protesters throwing stones, Amnesty emphasized that the heavy-handed response was state-sanctioned violence disguised as crowd control. The Delhi Police maintained that they only used force after protesters turned violent, stating that anti-social elements posing as aggrieved students caused grievous injuries to security forces.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside a Delhi police station with a 19-year-old protester who alleged being injured by pellets during the July 20 demonstration, demanding a police investigation. The protests, which began as a reaction to exam irregularities, evolved into a broader movement addressing unemployment, opportunities for young people, and concerns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's increasingly authoritarian rule. This marked the most significant challenge Modi has faced since winning a third term in 2024.