Amid pellet gun row, CRPF chief asks RAF personnel to serve nation with dedication

Published 31 July 2026 · local

Amid allegations that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel used pellet guns against protestors during the July 20 march to Parliament called by the Cockroach Janta

Amid allegations that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel used pellet guns against protestors during the July 20 march to Parliament called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) chief G. P. Singh on Friday (July 31, 2026) visited the headquarters of RAF’s 103 battalion in Delhi and urged personnel to “serve the nation with unwavering dedication”. The RAF is the specialised anti-riot unit of the CRPF and was deployed under the operational control of the Delhi Police on July 20. In a post on X, the CRPF said that at the headquarters of 103 Battalion, RAF, the Director General “paid solemn tribute to martyrs at the Martyrs’ Memorial and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent”. In a subsequent post, the CRPF said, “Standing shoulder to shoulder with our brave personnel, continuing his visit to 103 RAF, DG, CRPF, Shri G.

P. Singh, IPS, held an inspiring Samvad with the RAF troops, including the troops deployed across the country, through VC, urging them to serve the nation with unwavering dedication. The visit concluded with a high-tea interaction, reinforcing the strong bond within the force.” Two rounds fired Despite repeated denials by the Delhi Police that pellet guns were used against protestors during the July 20 march to Parliament, a general diary entry filed by the RAF at the Parliament Street police station on July 22 revealed that they fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun at the directions of an officer of the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). At least four people were injured, with one of them feared to lose vision in his right eye. Following the July 20 incident, the RAF withdrew shock batons, electric shields, pump-action guns and anti-riot guns, which fire pellets, from personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar.

During a video conference after the incident, Inspector General, RAF, Seema Dhundhia, “gave clear directions that during the current Delhi deployment, the situation has been analysed and until further orders, pump action guns (PAG), anti-riot guns (ARG), electric shock weapon, and electric shields shall not be used or issued to personnel”. The protest at Jantar Mantar was called off on July 25 after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned. Minutes of the meeting accessed by The Hindu said that “serious deficiencies were observed in many aspects of the operation, which need to be improved in the future”. The Inspector General directed that the core principle of the RAF is “sensitive policing” and that the use of force in every situation must be done only to the necessary extent, in a judicious, fair, restrained, and sensitive manner.