India used pellets, grenades on Gen Z protests: What Amnesty report reveals

What the report says

Amnesty International says Indian security forces used tear gas, pellet-firing shotguns, grenades, batons and electric shock devices against students and other demonstrators during Gen Z protests in New Delhi last month, according to an investigation published by the rights group and reported by Al Jazeera. The protests were tied to anger over exam paper leaks and other education-related scandals, and centered on a march to Parliament Street on July 20.

Al Jazeera reported that more than 100 students were injured in the crackdown that day, and that hospital records reviewed by newspapers showed pellet-related wounds in some cases. Amnesty’s Evidence Lab said it verified video, photo and witness material indicating that police and paramilitary personnel fired pellet weapons and used tear gas and batons in ways the group says violated international standards and Indian policing guidance. The report also said authorities erected barricades and imposed a communications blackout.

The article says Delhi Police publicly denied using pellet guns or excessive force, while Amnesty said its evidence directly contradicted that account. A later internal inquiry by India’s paramilitary forces reportedly found that personnel had fired multiple rounds of ammunition containing metal pellets. The report also described allegations that plainclothes men beat protesters while uniformed officers stood nearby.

The findings have intensified criticism from India’s opposition, which has pressed Home Minister Amit Shah over the police response. Al Jazeera’s report places the episode in the broader context of recent youth-led protests and long-running controversy over crowd-control tactics in India, including the use of pellet weapons in Kashmir.