By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-08-08 05:36:48 | Updated at 2026-08-08 08:34:05
3 hours ago
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By Anupreeta Das, Showkat Nanda and Jiawei Wang
- Thousands of unarmed students marching to the Indian Parliament were met with police using pellet guns, tear gas, and batons, leading to public outrage over excessive force.
- Videos and witness accounts show security forces hitting protesters on the torso and firing tear gas improperly, violating UN and Indian guidelines for peaceful demonstrations.
- Protesters filed petitions accusing police brutality; the Supreme Court called for an evidence-based inquiry, while some officials denied use of pellet guns despite reports and injuries.
NEW DELHI – When thousands of unarmed students marched towards the Indian Parliament building in July in a rare challenge to the government, they were met by a wall of riot police officers determined to stop them.
Officials had blocked internet in the area, initially slowing the emergence of details of the crackdown.
