India cockroach protests: Videos show officers firing 'pellet guns'

What the report says

BBC World News reports that thousands of people have demonstrated in Delhi in what it describes as the “cockroach protests,” calling for educational reforms and the resignation of a government minister. The report says the protests have drawn large crowds in the Indian capital, but the published text does not identify the minister or set out the specific policy changes being demanded.

According to BBC Verify, videos from different parts of Delhi appear to show security officers firing so-called pellet guns in the direction of protesters. The BBC says its verification team has been examining the footage and also noted apparent injuries among protesters, though the article does not provide a confirmed injury count or independent official account of what happened.

The Central Reserve Police Force did not answer the BBC’s questions about the reported use of pellet guns or the injuries seen in the videos, the broadcaster said. The force told Indian media that it was too early to comment and that it was reviewing the events.

The development matters because the reported use of pellet-firing weapons at a protest over education and government accountability is likely to intensify scrutiny of crowd-control tactics in India’s capital. Based on the BBC’s account, key facts remain unresolved, including the full sequence of events, the number of people hurt, and what action, if any, authorities may take after reviewing the incidents.