TMC's Derek O'Brien accuses BJP of "cover-up" over pellet gun use on protesters

Trinamool Congress joint secretary Derek O'Brien on Friday accused the ruling BJP of attempting to "cover up" the issue of pellet guns being used against protesting students in Delhi on July 20.

His remarks came as Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at the Parliament Street police station here, saying he would not leave until an FIR was registered on a complaint filed by a youth who suffered pellet injuries during the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest on July 20.

"Pellets. On August 10, an RTI filed by TMC's Saket Gokhale first revealed the truth about the pellet criminal conspiracy. Modi-Shah's beleaguered government still in cover-up mode," O'Brien said.

The alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 protest has since turned into a major flashpoint, with opposition leaders seeking accountability for the injuries sustained by protesters and demanding an FIR be filed.

Gokhale's RTI applications to four major central government hospitals in Delhi sought information on individuals who suffered pellet gun injuries during the protest. Responses from Lady Hardinge Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital confirmed at least 10 victims in total — nine at Lady Hardinge and one at Safdarjung. 

AIIMS, however, refused to share information sought under the RTI regarding whether any of the 96 casualty and emergency cases recorded on July 20 involved pellet, shot or projectile injuries. The hospital stated that 94 of the cases were medico-legal in nature and eight patients had been admitted, but declined to disclose the nature of the injuries, citing Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act and noting that such disclosure could directly or indirectly lead to identifying or tracing the individuals involved.