New Delhi, August 21: After an eight-hour sit-in by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi outside the Parliament Street police station, the Delhi police have registered an FIR against unidentified individuals based on a complaint from student Sahil Lochab, who was injured during a protest at Jantar Mantar. Following the filing of the FIR, Lochab expressed gratitude to Gandhi, stating that his team had been in touch with him for the past month, and Gandhi had personally inquired about his health.
In the FIR, Lochab alleges that on July 20, during a student march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, he was shot with metal pellets, resulting in the loss of vision in his right eye and hundreds of pellets embedded in various parts of his body.
The 20-year-old Lochab, a resident of Agarwal Colony in Najafgarh and a student at the School of Open Learning (SOL) at Delhi University, noted in his complaint that he is the eldest son in his family, with a disabled father. He emphasized that he has never been involved in any criminal case.
According to the FIR, students were protesting against alleged discrepancies in examinations and the Delhi Police recruitment exam 2025, as well as the NEET paper leak. During the protest, Lochab claims he had reached the Connaught Place area while holding a national flag.
The complaint states that tear gas and police baton charges were deployed during the protest. At that moment, Lochab felt a sudden explosion-like sensation on his right chest, arm, and eye. He alleged that when he turned to look, he saw a man in blue uniform wielding a large gun, who fired metal pellets at him. Lochab claims he was shot five to six times, causing bleeding from his eye, face, arm, and chest, and he lost vision in his right eye.
The FIR indicates that after his injuries, he was initially taken to Lady Harding Hospital, where his first medical legal case (MLC) was registered. He was then referred to Safdarjung Hospital and later to AIIMS. On the night of July 21, he was sent to the RPC Eye Center at AIIMS and subsequently admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Center. According to the complaint, his first eye surgery took place on the night of July 22.
Lochab asserts that doctors clearly stated in the MLC that his eye injury was caused by a pellet and that the chances of regaining vision are less than one percent. A CT scan at AIIMS revealed over 200 metal pellets in his body, located in various areas, including near his eye, neck, chest, jaw, and arm. The complaint notes that some pellets are near the eye’s nerve and cannot be removed, while two pellets will remain in his eye for life.
The FIR states that a follow-up examination on July 25 found no vision in his right eye. After an OPD check at the RPC Eye Center on July 31, a second surgery was performed on August 1, but there was no improvement in his eye condition. The doctors later confirmed in medical prescriptions that the injuries were caused by metal pellets.
Lochab mentioned that he participated in the peaceful protest as a student, but instead, he lost his eye and suffered numerous injuries. He expressed concern that his aspirations to join the Delhi Police are now jeopardized, and his education has been adversely affected. He highlighted the financial strain on his family due to the prolonged treatment.
In his complaint, Lochab has requested the Delhi Police to secure CCTV footage from Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Connaught Place, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, metro stations, traffic police, and drones related to the incident on July 20. He also urged that the metal pellets removed during the surgery be sent for examination and requested all records related to his MLC and treatment from Lady Harding Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, RPC Eye Center, and AIIMS Trauma Center. He called for consideration regarding his treatment and compensation, expressing willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation.
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