India police used excessive force during protests, Amnesty says

Indian authorities employed excessive force, including electric shock devices and pellet guns, during youth-led protests on July 20 in New Delhi, Amnesty International reported on Monday. The demonstrations, sparked by the leak of a national medical entrance test, turned violent as thousands of protesters attempted to reach Parliament.

Witness testimony and verified visual evidence provided by Amnesty revealed the use of pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas launchers, grenades, batons, and electric shock devices against demonstrators in Delhi and the eastern state of Bihar. Two instances of police officers unlawfully using lethal force against a crowd in Bihar's Siwan district were also confirmed by the rights group.

No fatalities were reported. Amnesty stated that the weapons were deployed in a manner that violated international law and domestic policing guidelines. While protests were primarily driven by anger over exam irregularities, they evolved into a broader movement addressing unemployment, opportunities for young people, and concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's growing authoritarianism.

Delhi Police claimed they only resorted to force after protesters turned violent, attributing grievous injuries to anti-social elements posing as aggrieved students. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi led a sit-in outside a Delhi police station, demanding a police investigation after a 19-year-old protester claimed to have been injured by pellets during the July 20 demonstration.