Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh has urged personnel to perform their duties fearlessly amid the ongoing controversy over the reported use of pellet guns during protests at Jantar Mantar earlier this month. Addressing the force's investiture ceremony on Monday, the CRPF chief assured personnel that he would take responsibility for decisions and actions taken by them while carrying out their duties in good faith. His remarks come as questions continue to be raised over the crowd-control measures employed during the July 20 protest.

In his address, Singh said that personnel serving in both operational battalions and law-and-order units should continue to discharge their responsibilities without fear. He assured officers and jawans that any accountability arising from bona fide decisions taken in the course of duty would rest with him as the Director General of the force. The statement was viewed as a message of support to CRPF personnel following criticism over the handling of recent demonstrations.

The remarks come against the backdrop of allegations regarding the use of pellet guns during the Parliament march held at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The incident sparked public and political debate over the methods used by security forces to control protesters. Questions have also been raised about whether standard operating procedures governing crowd management were followed during the operation.

Also Read: CJP Faces Criticism Over Dancing Videos as Protesters Struggled After Rally

According to reports, the Director General's statement follows internal discussions within the force regarding the handling of the protest. Earlier this month, the chief of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised unit of the CRPF responsible for crowd control, is learnt to have informed personnel that the "force gradient" adopted during the July 20 operation did not conform to prescribed operational standards or the crowd-control training imparted to RAF units. The reported observations highlighted concerns over the proportional use of force during the incident.

The controversy has drawn attention to the protocols governing public order management and the responsibilities of security agencies during large-scale demonstrations. Crowd-control operations are expected to follow established guidelines that emphasise the graded and proportionate use of force, with specialised units such as the RAF receiving dedicated training to manage volatile situations while minimising harm to protesters and bystanders.

While the CRPF chief's remarks were intended to reassure personnel of institutional support, the broader debate over the events of July 20 continues. Authorities have not announced any final findings regarding the allegations surrounding the use of pellet guns, and discussions over adherence to operational procedures remain ongoing. The incident has renewed focus on balancing effective law enforcement with the protection of civil liberties during public protests.

Also Read: CJP Leaders Reveal Future Strategy After Jantar Mantar Protest, Say Fight Continues