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Pellet Guns, Sticks and Tear Gas: How India’s Police Halted a Youth March
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Thousands of unarmed students marched toward the Indian Parliament last month to protest the nation's education system but were met with a heavy police crackdown involving riot police, tear gas, and pellet guns.
- Videos and eyewitness accounts verified by The New York Times show security forces used excessive and disproportionate force, violating both United Nations guidelines and India’s home ministry rules for handling peaceful demonstrations.
- The police justified their actions by stating the march was unauthorized and strictly prohibited, claiming force was a last resort; they reported injuries to 118 officers and detained 70 individuals.
- Protest organizers reported at least 150 students were hospitalized due to police violence, sparking public outrage and condemnation from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who called the crackdown a stain on Indian democracy.
- The Delhi Police have not responded to requests for comment on the video evidence analyzed by The New York Times.
