A protest march to Parliament linked to the Cockroach Janta Party has brought renewed scrutiny to riot-control weapons used by security forces in Delhi. Allegations that a protester suffered pellet-gun injuries and that a woman was stunned by a shock baton have raised questions about the proportionality of force in crowd management.

What happened

A source at Lady Hardinge Medical College said at least one of the roughly 80 injured during the Monday march to Parliament had pellet-gun injuries. A friend of the injured man, identified as Shaikh Irshad Mansoori, said he was hit near Palika Bazaar in Connaught Place by a Rapid Action Force (RAF) jawan in uniform.

A separate video showed a woman being stunned by a shock baton. Hospital sources said the total number of injured later rose to 83, including civilians and police officers.

Background and earlier position