Amnesty International has accused Indian police of using excessive force against youth-led protests over alleged examination irregularities, including the use of pellet guns, tear gas, batons and electric shock devices. The rights organisation released its findings on Monday, adding to scrutiny of the authorities' handling of demonstrations that intensified after a national medical entrance examination was allegedly leaked.

The protests began in New Delhi and other parts of India and escalated on July 20, when thousands of demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament. Amnesty said it examined witness accounts and visual material and verified instances involving pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas launchers, grenades, batons and electric shock devices. It also alleged that police in Bihar's Siwan district used lethal force against crowds on two occasions, although no deaths were reported.

According to Amnesty, some protesters threw stones during isolated incidents, but it described the broader police response as disproportionate. The organisation alleged that the weapons were deployed in ways that violated international standards and India's own policing guidelines. Its findings have emerged as questions continue over whether authorities used appropriate measures to control the crowds while protecting protesters' rights.

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The police have disputed that account, maintaining that force was used only after demonstrators became violent. During a Supreme Court hearing, Delhi Police said that some individuals posing as students had contributed to the violence and that security personnel suffered serious injuries. The competing accounts are now part of a wider examination of the events surrounding the protests.

The controversy also intensified after a 19-year-old protester, Sahil Lochab, said he suffered pellet injuries during the July 20 march. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi later staged a sit-in outside a Delhi police station alongside Lochab and demanded an investigation into the alleged shooting. Police subsequently registered a case based on the complaint.

The Supreme Court has also established a panel to examine the violence involving both protesters and police. The demonstrations, which initially focused on examination irregularities, expanded into broader concerns over unemployment and opportunities for young people. The findings by Amnesty and the ongoing legal proceedings are expected to keep attention focused on the conduct of security forces and the authorities' response to the protests.

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