The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has started an internal verification after allegations surfaced that some of its personnel used excessive force and fired pellet gun during the ongoing student protests in Delhi. Officials confirmed on Friday that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which oversees the RAF, has directed the Inspector General (IG) of the anti-riot force to examine the sequence of events during the protest operations.
According to officials, the review will look at how RAF teams handled the demonstrations, the actions they took to control the crowd, and the incidents in which security personnel were allegedly attacked by protesters.
No formal court of inquiry yet
CRPF officials clarified that no formal Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been ordered at this stage. Instead, the force has begun a preliminary verification process to establish the facts surrounding the incidents.
Officials said a decision on whether to launch a formal inquiry will be taken only after this initial fact-finding exercise is completed.
A senior officer said that all legal procedures laid down for examining the conduct of personnel during operational duties would be followed.
Social media videos under examination
Officials said the RAF has taken note of several videos and photographs circulating on social media that show its personnel in their blue riot-control uniforms.
Some of the clips reportedly show RAF personnel carrying guns, using batons, and conducting a lathi-charge against protesters. Other videos show RAF personnel being surrounded and allegedly attacked by sections of the crowd.
The force is examining all such footage to understand the complete sequence of events.
Questions raised over pellet gun use
One of the key issues under review is the alleged use of 12-bore pump-action guns, commonly referred to as pellet gun, which are part of the RAF’s riot-control equipment.
Officials explained that the RAF’s standard operating procedure (SOP) allows these weapons to be used only in extremely dangerous situations where personnel face a serious threat to their lives.
The SOP also requires the use of a deflector so that the metal or rubber pellets cause limited injuries and are aimed only at the lower half of a person’s body.
Since January 20, at least two students have reportedly been admitted to local hospitals with pellet injuries.
While Delhi Police has denied possessing pellet guns and described reports suggesting otherwise as misleading, neither the CRPF nor the RAF has officially confirmed or denied allegations that RAF personnel fired pellet ammunition during the protests.
More incidents also being verified
Apart from the allegations of pellet gun use, officials said the RAF is reviewing several other incidents captured on video.
These include footage showing stranded RAF personnel allegedly being assaulted by protesters, a video where an RAF-uniformed man appears to trip a running protester, causing the person to fall, and another clip claiming that a shock-emitting gun was used against a protester.
Officials said all these incidents are being verified as part of the ongoing review.
CRPF tightens communication rules
Following the controversy, the CRPF has instructed commanders of the RAF and other deployed units not to interact with the media. The direction came after comments made by a woman RAF officer earlier this week were considered “undesirable” by the force.
Officials also said the CRPF headquarters is examining certain comments allegedly posted by RAF Assistant Commandant Sonia Sehrawat on Instagram regarding the protests. The review will determine whether the posts violated the paramilitary force’s social media policy.