As the controversy over the alleged use of pellet guns during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar continues, CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh has come out in support of security personnel.
Singh assured officers that they should continue performing their duties without fear and said he would take responsibility for any action taken by them while carrying out their official duties.
Speaking at the CRPF’s investiture ceremony, Singh said, “As the Director General of the CRPF, I want to assure each one of you that whether it is an operational battalion or a law-and-order unit, whatever decisions you take and whatever actions you carry out in the bona fide discharge of your duties, I take responsibility for all those decisions and actions.”
KHAKHI IS STANDING UP FOR ITSELF
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) July 30, 2026
STATE IS CLOSING RANKS.
CRPF chief backs personnel over force used at Jantar Mantar protest. Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh told jawans at a July 27 investiture ceremony, "Whatever decisions and actions you take in the bona fide… pic.twitter.com/gGCiuYBCvX
“Continue to perform your duties fearlessly. Wherever responsibility or accountability needs to be taken, I will take it as the Director General,” CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh added.
Protest turned violent, pellet gun use sparks debate
The CJP had organised its ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on 20th July over the NEET-UG paper leak issue, which had affected lakhs of students across the country. The protest later turned violent as clashes broke out between demonstrators and security personnel near Jantar Mantar and surrounding areas.
According to Delhi Police, more than 65 protesters and over 200 police personnel were injured during the violence. The alleged use of pellet guns by security forces during the operation later became a major political issue after reports claimed that several protesters suffered serious injuries.
According to a report by The Indian Express, an internal CRPF inquiry found that a Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel fired seven rounds from a pellet gun during the 20th July protest, with five pellets striking protesters. The report also said that at least three protesters were treated in hospitals for pellet gun injuries after demonstrators tried to march towards Parliament.
CRPF sources have maintained that standard operating procedures and anti-riot drills were followed on July 20, with non-lethal pellet guns used only after public announcements, tear gas and lathi charge proved insufficient, and that force gradient principles were observed.
