The Rapid Action Force fired pellet gun at protesters demonstrating against the alleged irregularities in public exams on July 20 on the orders of a Delhi Police officer, The Hindu reported on Tuesday citing documents.

The newspaper reported that it had accessed a general diary entry made at 1.24 am by the Rapid Action Force. The force fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of a deputy commissioner of police-rank officer, it added.

The diary entry said that to control the crowd during the protest, “on the orders of the DCP”, the Rapid Action Force deputy commandant fired 55 rounds of non-electrical shell, 15 rounds of electrical shell, five tear smoke grenade, two rounds using ballistic cartridges with plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun, The Hindu reported.

At least four persons were injured in the incident on July 20. This was the first time that a pellet gun has been used in Delhi against unarmed protesters, according to The Hindu.

The agitation in Delhi began on June 6, when the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign began a protest at Jantar Mantar to demand the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union education minister at the time, over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive exams. Pradhan resigned on Saturday.

On July 20, thousands...

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