Supreme Court Panel to Hear Evidence on Alleged Pellet Gun Use, Harassment at Jantar Mantar Protests
The five member enquiry committee will receive complaints and evidence on October 29 and 30, including allegations of excessive force and mistreatment of female protesters.
New Delhi: A Supreme Court appointed committee investigating alleged violence during the July protests at Jantar Mantar will hear affected individuals and collect evidence concerning the alleged use of pellet guns, harassment of female protesters and other incidents during the demonstrations.
The High Powered Enquiry Committee (HPEC) will conduct proceedings on October 29 and 30 at its office in Shiksha Sadan, Rouse Avenue Institutional Area, New Delhi. The hearings will begin at 11 AM, while members of the public and affected individuals can submit complaints, representations and evidence between 11:30 AM and 3 PM on both days. Visitors must carry valid identity documents.
According to officials, the committee will examine allegations of pellet gun use, targeted violence, harassment of female protesters, excessive use of force and damage to property. It will also consider allegations of violence against police personnel.
The five member panel is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice R. Subhash Reddy. Its other members are former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Ravi Shankar Jha, former Delhi High Court judge Justice Shalinder Kaur, former CBI director Rishi Kumar Shukla and retired Meghalaya Director General of Police L. R. Bishnoi.
The Supreme Court constituted the committee while hearing petitions concerning alleged police excesses against student protesters during demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The proceedings also involve counter allegations of violence against security personnel.
To facilitate submissions from a wider range of affected people, the committee has launched an online portal at hpec.nic.in. Witnesses, affected individuals and other stakeholders can use the portal to access prescribed formats and upload statements, representations and supporting documents.
The committee has been directed by the Supreme Court to protect vulnerable witnesses, keep their identities confidential and maintain strict secrecy regarding the statements and evidence submitted.
The protests at Jantar Mantar on July 20 reportedly resulted in clashes between demonstrators and security personnel. Police used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd, while some students were hospitalised with injuries reportedly linked to the possible use of pellet guns.
The student agitation began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and subsequently spread to several cities. According to the supplied report, the movement was called off on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The upcoming hearings are expected to provide affected individuals with an opportunity to present their accounts and supporting evidence to the committee.