New Delhi2 minutes agoAuthor: Sunil Maurya
Nineteen-year-old Sahil is from Haryana. His family lives in Najafgarh, Delhi.
Even today, two pellets remain lodged in the eyes of Sahil Lohchab, who was injured by a pellet gun during the CJP’s Parliament March in Delhi on July 20. Despite undergoing surgery twice, there is little hope that his eyesight will return.
Sahil alleges that his family contacted the police several times to get an FIR registered, but their complaints were ignored. On August 21, Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street police station for nearly six hours, after which an FIR was registered based on the complaint.
What happened during the July 20 protest, how was he injured by the pellet gun, and how did he speak to Rahul Gandhi? Find the answers to all these questions in the Bhaskar interview…
1. Question: Did you try to get the FIR registered yourself? Answer: On August 14, my mother and lawyer went to the police station, but the FIR was not registered. We then sent a complaint by post and also emailed the Delhi Police, but no FIR was registered. We did not even receive an acknowledgment of the FIR.
2. Question: How many times did you visit the police station, and which officer did you meet? Answer: We went to the police station two or three times. No senior officer was even willing to speak with us. We also went to the Crime Branch, but we were not heard there either. We were not getting any answers.
3. Question: How did you get in touch with Rahul? Did Rahul contact you himself? Answer: About five days later, Rahul Gandhi’s team spoke to my mother. They asked for a health update. We told them that our FIR was not being registered. They then invited us themselves. After that, we went to meet them on the morning of August 21. We first went with him to the Connaught Place police station. I consider myself fortunate to have met Rahul.
4. Question: Who all are there in your family? Answer: There are three brothers in the family. Sahil’s father, Deepak, is differently abled. In such circumstances, Sahil was helping support the family while pursuing his studies. Things have become difficult now.
5. Question: Why did you go to the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar? Answer: I was opposed to the NEET paper leak and irregularities in examinations. I also wanted to contribute to this protest. That is why I took part in the march to Parliament on July 20.
6. Question: What happened on July 20? Answer: I went to the CJP protest. A baton charge began at Jantar Mantar. We reached Connaught Place Circle with the crowd. Tear gas shells were fired there first. I was holding the Indian flag. Just then, a pellet gun was fired at me. I became numb.
This picture is from July 20, when Sahil was taken to the hospital after being injured during the CJP protest. His eye surgery was performed.
7. Question: What happened after being hit by a pellet gun on March 20? Answer: When my condition deteriorated on July 20, I was taken to Lady Hardinge Hospital. I was kept at Lady Hardinge for 6 to 7 hours. After that, I was sent to Safdarjung. From there, I was sent to AIIMS. First, I was taken to the AIIMS Eye Centre, and from there, I was sent to the Trauma Centre.
I have already undergone eye surgery twice, but I still cannot see. The doctors have given it a month. The chances of regaining my vision are very low. The nerves in my right hand are still compressed. I still have two pellets in my eye. I was also unconscious for four to five days.
Rahul Gandhi spoke to the media with Sahil on July 24. During this interaction, he lifted Sahil’s T-shirt to show the pellet marks.
Mother Jyoti said-“I was terrified when I received the news about my son.”
Question: When did you learn about your son’s accident? Answer: Sahil left home at around 10 a.m. on July 20. But when he did not answer his phone even at 3 p.m., she became worried.
After that, the family received a call from Lady Hardinge Hospital. They told us that your son Sahil had been injured. We then went to Lady Hardinge.
Question: When did you learn about the pellet gun? Answer: We were watching it on TV. We assumed that he must have suffered an injury to his hand. But we did not know that a pellet gun had been fired. We learned that only after reaching the hospital.
Sahil with his mother. This photo is from Sansad March police station.
Crowd Control in India: When and How Much Use of Force Is Necessary?
Order to Disperse: Under Section 148(1) of the BNSS, if there is a threat to public peace from a gathering of five or more people, an Executive Magistrate or an authorized police officer may order the crowd to disperse.
Use of Force: If the crowd does not disperse even after the order, force may be used to disperse it under Section 148(2) of the BNSS.
Lathi Charge: According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development, the necessary amount of force should be used depending on the size of the crowd. The lathi charge should be stopped as soon as the crowd disperses. Strikes to the head should not be made.
Tear Gas: Tear gas may be used depending on the situation. It is essential to take weather conditions, such as the direction and speed of the wind, into account.
Pellets/Rubber Bullets: These are described as an option in situations where a lathi charge is ineffective, such as heavy stone-pelting.
Armed Forces: When it is not possible to disperse a crowd by other means and it is necessary for public safety, the Executive Magistrate may seek the assistance of the armed forces. Section 149 of the BNSS provides for the use of only the minimum force necessary.
