SC panel to hear evidence on pellet gun use, harassment of female protesters during July 20 march

NEW DELHI: A Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Enquiry Committee will hear affected persons and record evidence on the alleged use of pellet guns, targeted violence and harassment of female protesters during the July 20 march to Parliament, officials said on Saturday.

The five-member panel, probing the alleged violence during protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and other locations, will hold a two-day sitting on October 29 and 30 at its office in Shiksha Sadan, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area. Proceedings will begin at 11 am, while members of the public can submit complaints, representations and evidence between 11.30 am and 3 pm on both days. Those attending must carry valid identity documents.

The committee will examine allegations of excessive use of force, including the use of pellet guns, as well as targeted violence and harassment of women protesters. It will also consider allegations of violence against police personnel and damage to property by either side.

The panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R Subhash Reddy. Its other members include former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former Central Bureau of Investigation director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L R Bishnoi.

The committee has also launched an online portal, hpec.nic.in, where affected persons, witnesses and other stakeholders can submit statements, complaints and supporting documents. The facility is intended to protect vulnerable witnesses and allow their identities to remain confidential.

The July 20 march, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) amid protests over the alleged NEET examination paper leak, witnessed clashes between demonstrators and security personnel. Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse protesters, while some students were hospitalised with injuries reportedly linked to the possible use of pellet guns.

The Supreme Court constituted the committee to examine allegations of police excesses alongside counter-allegations of violence during the protests.