According to a CRPF post-event analysis, all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and anti-riot drills were followed during the July 20 police action against anti-NEET leak protesters.
The report noted that the operation included authorised use of non-lethal measures, like pellet guns.
Force Gradient Followed In NEET Protest Action
An internal review by the CRPF into the July 20 police action against anti-NEET leak protesters confirmed that its specialised anti-riot unit, the Rapid Action Force (RAF), followed force gradient, according to a Times of India report citing sources.
The assessment revealed that pump-action guns were used only after lower-grade crowd-control measures, such as public announcement for crowd dispersal, tear gas, and a lathicharge, failed to disperse the crowd. Around 3-5 protesters were injured by metal pellets, while 47 RAF personnel were injured, six of whom suffered head injuries.
When contacted, CRPF Director General G P Singh stated that the matter is ‘sub judice’ and any findings or view of the force on RAF action would be placed before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, RAF sources maintained that the use of force on July 20 was authorised by Delhi Police, and in line with SOPs and law.
Police, RAF Attacked With Stones And Iron Rails
According to the report, the crowd had some ‘motivated elements’ who attacked Delhi Police and RAF personnel with stones and, in some cases, with iron rails.
Under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), an executive magistrate has the authority to order the use of civil force to disperse an unlawful assembly after evaluating the situation on the ground. In the capital, this magisterial power rests with the Delhi Police Commissioner and is delegated down to the level of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).
“RAF deployed at protest sites uses anti-riot gear only with authorisation, which in this case came from the DCP/ACP in charge of the protest site. Such authorisation is in writing and as per a format used at all sites of unlawful assembly; no order is given verbally,” an officer was quoted as saying.
Pump-Action Guns Are ‘Non-Lethal’ Measure
CRPF sources said that pump-action guns are an approved non-lethal measure to control unlawful assemblies.
“Their use, with the force gradient being followed and under authorisation by the competent officer, is as per the SOP,” the officer said.
The force cited a Jammu and Kashmir High Court ruling on a PIL challenging pellet guns, which noted: “So long as there is violence by unruly mobs, use of force is inevitable. What kind of force has to be used at the relevant point of time or in a given situation has to be decided by the persons in charge of the place where the attack is happening. This court in writ jurisdiction, without any finding rendered by the competent forum/authority, cannot decide whether the use of force in a particular incident is excessive or not.”
The Supreme Court later dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against this order, observing that the use of pellet guns by any agency “has not only not been barred, but validated through these orders.”