Amid accusations of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) using force against students during NEET exam paper leak protests, CRPF director general Gyanendra Pratap Singh made a loaded statement, assuring the soldiers that they would “perform their duties without fear” and that he would take responsibility.
During the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)'s investiture ceremony Singh said: "I want to assure all of you that whether it is our operational battalions or law and order units, whatever decisions you take and whatever actions you take in the national interest, public interest and the interest of the force, provided they are in the honest discharge of your duty, I take full responsibility for all those decisions and actions."
Singh’s statement comes amid the alleged use of plastic pellets becoming a major political flashpoint after reports emerged that some protesters had sustained grievous pellet injuries during the violence.
However, a post-incident assessment by the CRPF had stated that all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and laid-down protocols were followed by the RAF personnel during the police action against anti-NEET protesters on July 20.
Meanwhile, as per reports, at least a dozen Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel were issued pellet guns on the morning of July 20 to deal with student protesters in Delhi, but the controversial weapons were withdrawn from deployment from July 23 after allegations that they had been used against demonstrators, officials aware of an internal inquiry said on Monday.
