Hospital Record Mentions Pellet Wounds as Police Reject Allegations of Pellet Gun Use During NEET Protest

New Delhi, July 24, 2026 The controversy surrounding the July 20 Jantar Mantar protest has deepened after medical records from a government hospital appeared to contradict Delhi Police's denial of using pellet guns during the demonstration. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), was part of the ongoing demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak, with allegations of excessive force being used to stop protesters from marching toward Parliament. According to records from Safdarjung Hospital, a 28-year-old participant in the march was treated for injuries identified as "pellet wounds" on his right elbow and back. The case sheet reportedly mentioned darkened skin around the wounds, pellet fragments lodged in the skin, and tenderness at the sites of impact. The medical findings have brought renewed attention to the events that unfolded during the protest. Responding to the allegations, Delhi Police firmly denied using pellet guns against demonstrators. "Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading," the police had said. "Delhi Police neither possess pellet guns nor do they use them in the ongoing protest. The public is requested not to share or circulate any unverified or misleading information." With the hospital's medical observations and the police's official denial presenting differing accounts, the incident has become a subject of continued public discussion. The developments have added another layer to the ongoing debate over the handling of the NEET paper leak protests and the circumstances surrounding the injuries reported during the march.