Amid allegations of security personnel using disproportionate force and firing pellet guns during the student march in Delhi on July 20, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised anti-riots wing of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has launched an internal investigation, according to a report.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has directed the Inspector General (IG) of the RAF to submit a report on what measures were taken by various teams to "control" the protesters as well as incidents where they were attacked, reports PTI.
This comes as at least two students have been hospitalised with pellet injuries since January 20.
A 12-bore pump-action gun, popularly called a pellet gun, is part of RAF's riot gear. RAF personnel are allowed to use these guns when they face extremely challenging situations, including a grave danger to their life. However, pellet guns should only be used with a deflector so that the metal or rubber pellet inflicts fewer injuries and only on the lower half of the body, according to the standard operating procedure (SOP).
CRPF officials clarified that it has not initiated a formal Court of Inquiry (CoI) into these incidents yet. They said an official probe will be ordered once the verification exercise gives a clearer picture.
The pellet guns were allegedly used during the 'Chalo Sansad' march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) from Jantar Mantar on July 20.= While the students were attempting to march towards Parliament, they allegedly clashed with the Delhi police and RAF personnel.
The students have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent NEET question paper leak.
The RAF is currently examining social media content showing security personnel deploying guns, sticks and resorting to lathi-charge. Other videos under RAF lens include those showing RAF personnel being surrounded and attacked by the protesters.
One clip shows protesters attacking stranded jawans while another a man in the blue RAF dungarees was shown tripping a rushing protester and causing him to fall.
"All legal procedures stipulated to check the conduct of the personnel during such operational duties will be followed," PTI quoted a senior RAF officer as saying.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police revealed that it does not possess pellet guns and called such reports misleading.
The CRPF also instructed the commanders of the RAF and other regular units deployed for the protests not to speak to the press after a similar interaction by a woman RAF officer earlier this week was deemed "undesirable".
The CRPF is reportedly also looking into the purported comments made by RAF Assistant Commandant Sonia Sehrawat on the protests through her Instagram handle over possible violation of the paramilitary's social media policy, the officials said.
