Retired Intelligence Bureau Special Director Yashovardhan Azad, along with two other victims of pellet gun injuries — an artist and another professional — has moved the Supreme Court to demand the decommissioning or banning of the use of wholly or partly metallic kinetic projectiles/pellets fired from pump-action rifles or projectile-action guns (PAG) for the purpose of crowd dispersal of civilian assemblies by law enforcement agencies.

They are also seeking the grant of exemplary compensation to all victims of pellet injuries caused by state action on July 20, as well as ensuring complete medical treatment, care, and rehabilitation for the aforementioned victims.

The petition said that around 4:30 p.m. on July 20, the two injured petitioners saw the crowd being pushed towards the inner circle of Connaught Place.

It added that while the protesters were fleeing, with many raising their arms as if in “surrender” mode, despite no provocation, RAF personnel suddenly fired pump-action gun(s), releasing a wide spray of splinter-like pellets that penetrated the bodies of petitioners Nos. 2 and 3 and caused immediate pain and bleeding.

Published - July 27, 2026 09:41 pm IST