Independent ballistic experts have concluded that injuries sustained by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a protest in New Delhi on July 20 were caused by pellet guns. The BBC confirmed at least four cases of protesters treated for wounds consistent with pellet gun fire, though the government has not officially confirmed such weapons were used.
The protest, which drew tens of thousands of demonstrators to the capital seeking education reforms and the education minister's resignation, was met by police and paramilitary forces. Official reports indicate 60 protesters and 118 personnel were injured, though the CJP claims the number of injured protesters was significantly higher.
Pellet guns, typically shotguns designed for bird hunting and firing cartridges containing numerous small metal pellets, can cause indiscriminate injuries when used against crowds. These weapons are banned in several countries due to their potential to inflict life-changing or life-threatening harm. The pellets can also introduce toxic lead into the body.
Two injured men told the BBC they believed they were hit by pellet guns fired by security forces. Photographs and videos of their injuries, along with a third individual, were reviewed by two independent armament and forensic experts. A hospital official confirmed a fourth person received treatment for pellet wounds.
Philip Boyce, a UK-based ballistics forensic scientist, stated that the injuries were "definitely from a pellet gun," identifying the weapon as a "12-gauge pump-action shotgun." He noted that while the injuries observed were not at close range, they could still be "devastating and potentially life-threatening even from 100 feet."
NR Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services in the UK, observed that images and video from the protests depicted police using shotguns for crowd control and that the injuries were "strongly consistent with the use of birdshot." He added that while shotguns are common in less-lethal arsenals, Indian law enforcement has a history of using birdshot cartridges for crowd control.
"These pellets are not safe," Jenzen-Jones warned. "They can result in life-changing or, occasionally, life-threatening injuries. They also pepper the body with toxic lead, which can sometimes be difficult to remove safely."
Many countries have banned or restricted the use of pellet guns. Boyce indicated that in the UK, while pellet guns are available and used for hunting, he is "not aware" of any instances where they have been employed for crowd control.