Amnesty International has accused Indian police of using excessive force against young protesters during demonstrations that erupted last month over the leak of a national medical entrance test.
In a report released on Monday, the rights organisation said it had verified witness accounts and visual evidence documenting the use of pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas, grenades, batons and electric shock devices against protesters in New Delhi and Bihar.
The protests began in response to allegations surrounding the national medical entrance examination. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in New Delhi on July 20 and attempted to march towards Parliament.
Amnesty said its investigation found repeated instances in which police allegedly used force against protesters who posed no immediate threat. The organisation also documented footage showing police officers striking demonstrators with batons.
Indian police have disputed allegations of excessive force, maintaining that officers acted only after protesters became disorderly. The competing accounts have prompted further scrutiny of the events.
India’s Supreme Court has also established a panel to investigate violence connected to the protests, including allegations concerning both police conduct and actions by demonstrators.
The demonstrations eventually contributed to political pressure that resulted in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Amnesty International has called for accountability and a thorough investigation into the conduct of security personnel, while the wider inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the unrest and the response by law-enforcement agencies.
