‘Goli Chalani Padti...’: Ex-ACP K.P. Kukreti Defends Delhi Police Action, Rejects Pellet Gun Claims

Kukreti Defends Police Response

Former Delhi ACP K.P. Kukreti said decisions concerning crowd-control measures are taken by senior police officers present at the scene according to the circumstances.

He stressed that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, police are empowered to intervene when a gathering becomes violent or poses a threat to public safety.

‘Goli Chalani Padti...’

Kukreti's comments came amid a political controversy over the police response to the July 20 student demonstration.

He rejected allegations that pellet guns were used against protesters and questioned claims being made about the nature of the police action.

Conflicting Accounts Over Pellet Use

The pellet-gun allegation remains disputed. Delhi Police had denied using pellet guns, but a report citing a Rapid Action Force general diary said that, on the orders of a DCP-rank officer, personnel fired two rounds using ballistic cartridges with plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun during the protest. The same report said at least four people were injured.

This means claims about pellet-gun use should be presented carefully as a contested issue rather than as an established fact.

Wider Political Controversy

The July 20 protest formed part of a wider student agitation over alleged irregularities in public examinations. The police response has since become a major political issue, with Opposition leaders demanding accountability and the authorities defending their handling of the demonstration.

Looking Ahead

The dispute over the July 20 crackdown is likely to continue as competing accounts of the police response are examined. Any further official investigation, documentary evidence or judicial proceedings could provide greater clarity on what weapons and crowd-control measures were actually used.