CJP protest: India's 'Cockroach' protesters have wounds consistent with pellet-gun fire

Central Delhi witnessed overwhelming violence on 20 July when tens of thousands of protesters tried to march to the parliament to seek education reforms and the resignation of the education minister. Police and paramilitary personnel were seen brutally attacking the crowds with wooden sticks.

Delhi Police said 60 protesters and 118 of their personnel were injured. CJP said the number of injured protesters was a lot higher than the official count.

What Happened

In the days following the crackdown, the government has not confirmed media reports that pellet guns were used on protesters. But the BBC has been able to confirm at least four cases where protesters have been treated at hospitals for wounds that.

• In Indian-administered Kashmir - where pellet guns have been used since 2010 - official data, compiled by Human Rights Watch, shows they have injured several thousand people, killed at least 17 and blinded dozens.

• I was with a group of protesters and we were raising slogans when an RAF personnel pointed his gun at us.

• He was walking from Connaught Place to Jantar Mantar, the main CJP protest venue, when "the police and RAF [Rapid Action Force, a paramilitary force] personnel began beating the crowd with sticks and firing.

Key Details

Pellet guns are shotguns designed for bird hunting. They fire cartridges, known as "birdshot", containing 200 to 400 small metal pellets.

• India cockroach protests: Videos of officers firing "pellet guns"Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, who works at a Gurugram-based firm, was not so fortunate.

• Mohit said the doctors told him that surgery could worsen his situation, but he worries about the damage "they can do in future since they remain lodged in my body or whether the ugly.

• The notes include a diagram showing where the objects are lodged in his body.

Why It Matters

When used against crowds, the pellets spread out in a wide arc, striking people indiscriminately. These guns are banned in several countries.

• Medical records that he has shared with the BBC show he has 26 pellet wounds on his right elbow and four on his upper right back.

• An X-ray taken at Safdarjung hospital, where he was treated for his wounds, shows tiny objects embedded in his arm and upper torso.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by BBC as more details emerge