On July 20, 19-year-old Sahil Lochab participated in the Chalo Sansad student protests in New Delhi, where he was hit by pellet bullets, leaving his family with a daunting reality: doctors have given him only a one per cent chance of regaining full vision. Currently, Sahil is being treated at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was shifted after initial treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College. The extent of his injury is clear: the pupil of his right eye was heavily damaged, with pellets confirmed as the cause by hospital sources, despite the Delhi Police denying these claims. Sahil, who aspired to join the Delhi Police Force, is now awaiting another surgery, his family anxiously waiting for the outcome. A childhood friend, Parvesh, shared that Sahil was hit directly in the eye and is still unable to see, experiencing significant pain. This incident marks one of the first reported cases of security forces, including the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force, using pellet guns on civilians in the national capital. Sahil is the fourth reported case, with others, including Shaikh Irshad Mansoori and a 21-year-old woman, Sakshi, also suffering critical injuries during the protest. The use of pellet bullets, which consist of many small pellets that spread out upon firing, has raised concerns, with the security forces denying allegations of their use.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf