Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Rijiju denies serious injuries in student protests amid contradictory evidence
Some students in Delhi were upset because they said important exams were not handled fairly.
They started a big protest at a place called Jantar Mantar on June 6.
On July 20, thousands of them marched toward Parliament, and police stopped them.
The government minister in charge, Kiren Rijiju, said nobody was seriously hurt and that police did not use any sticks.
But other records and videos showed something different.
Hospital papers showed that a 19-year-old protester was hit and lost sight in one eye.
A journalist had 26 small round marks from pellet shots, and officials said ten people were injured by pellets.
Videos also showed people being hit with sticks during the protest.
The protests grew bigger and spread to other parts of the country, and the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigned.
The government and the protesters disagree about what really happened that day.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed no protester was seriously injured and no lathi was used in the July 20 police action in Delhi.
An RTI response stated that 10 people were injured by pellets during the July 20 protest march to Parliament.
A 19-year-old protester sustained multiple wounds and lost vision in one eye after being hit by what doctors confirmed were pellets.
Safdarjung Hospital medical records showed a journalist had 26 small, round wounds doctors described as consistent with pellet strikes.
Rijiju said Delhi Police should be praised, but videos showed lathi assaults on students and police striking women; Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as education minister on July 25.
- Who
- Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, students and protesters, former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, activist Sonam Wangchuk, and Delhi Police.
- What
- Rijiju claimed no protester was seriously injured and no lathi was used in the July 20 police action, contradicting RTI data, medical records, and videos of the crackdown.
- When
- The police action took place on July 20; protests began on June 6; Pradhan resigned on July 25; Rijiju's interview aired around August 18, 2026.
- Where
- Delhi, including Jantar Mantar and the protest march toward Parliament.
- Why
- Protests over alleged irregularities in competitive exams sought Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, and the police crackdown intensified the agitation.
Government's Account
Protesters' Evidence and Accounts
Casualties and Injuries
Government's Account
Rijiju said not a single person was harmed or suffered a broken bone, and no protester was hospitalized with a serious injury.
Protesters' Evidence and Accounts
An RTI response said 10 people were injured by pellets, a 19-year-old protester lost vision in one eye, and a journalist had 26 pellet-consistent wounds.
Use of Force
Government's Account
Rijiju claimed the Delhi administration did not use even one lathi and should be praised for handling the massive protest without serious injuries.
Protesters' Evidence and Accounts
Videos showed security personnel striking students with lathis and police officers hitting women, and pellet guns were used for the first time in Delhi against unarmed protesters.
Nature of the Protest
Government's Account
Rijiju claimed criminals infiltrated the protest 'under the guise of students' and that Opposition parties including the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party tried to incite protesters.
Protesters' Evidence and Accounts
Protesters were students demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive exams and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down on July 25.
- Police action date
- July 20
- Injuries per RTI response
- 10 people injured by pellets
- Protester injury
- 19-year-old lost vision in one eye from pellet wounds
- Journalist wounds
- 26 small, round wounds consistent with pellets, per Safdarjung Hospital records
- Pellet guns in Delhi
- First time used against unarmed protesters
- Protest start
- June 6 at Delhi's Jantar Mantar
- Education minister resignation
- Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25
- Rijiju's claims
- No lathi used, no serious injuries, criminals and Opposition infiltrated protest