Hearing a petition seeking a ban on pellet guns, the Supreme Court on Thursday observed that the weapons may be used by police and security personnel only in exceptional circumstances.

The court directed the Delhi government to ensure that all individuals injured by pellet guns during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar receive appropriate medical treatment. The direction was issued while the court heard petitions alleging excessive use of force by security personnel during the demonstration.

The bench instructed the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi to provide medical care not only to the petitioners before the court but also to any other protesters who sustained similar injuries. It also sought records related to the deployment and use of pellet guns, including ammunition logs maintained by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), as part of its ongoing examination of the incident.

The petitions allege that pellet guns were used to disperse protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, resulting in injuries to several participants. During the hearing, the Supreme Court indicated that it would closely examine the circumstances surrounding the use of force, including whether established protocols were followed and whether the deployment of pellet guns was justified.

The matter remains under judicial consideration, with the court expected to continue examining the facts, the authorities’ response, and the broader issues surrounding the use of pellet guns for crowd control.

Inputs from Hindustan Times

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