Indian police used excessive force against youth-led demonstrations over the leak of a national medical entrance examination, including pellet guns, electric shock devices and tear gas, Amnesty International said on Monday.
The rights group said its investigation found evidence that police actions during protests in New Delhi and the eastern state of Bihar violated international standards and domestic policing guidelines.
The demonstrations began over allegations surrounding the leak of the national medical entrance test and grew into a wider protest movement focused on unemployment, opportunities for young people and concerns over the government’s policies.
Tensions escalated in New Delhi on July 20 when thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. Police said they used force only after demonstrators became violent.
Amnesty said it had reviewed witness accounts and verified visual evidence showing the use of pellet-firing shotguns, tear gas launchers, grenades, batons and electric shock devices against protesters.
The organisation also said it had verified two incidents in Siwan district of Bihar in which police officers allegedly used lethal force against crowds. No deaths were reported in those incidents.
Amnesty said there were isolated cases of protesters throwing stones but argued that the police response went far beyond what was necessary to control crowds.
The findings conflict with the account presented by Delhi Police during a Supreme Court hearing last week. Authorities told the court that officers resorted to force only after protesters had engaged in violence.
Police also alleged that individuals posing as students had attacked security personnel and caused serious injuries.
The Supreme Court has established a panel to investigate violence committed by both police and protesters. The move came as questions continued to grow over how authorities handled the demonstrations.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi also raised concerns about police conduct. On Friday, he held a sit-in outside a Delhi police station alongside a 19-year-old protester who said he had been injured by pellets during the July demonstration.
Gandhi called for an investigation into the alleged shooting. Police later registered a case based on the complaint.
The protests were led by the online Cockroach Janta Party and expanded beyond the original dispute over examination irregularities. Demonstrators increasingly focused on limited employment opportunities and broader concerns about governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The unrest has emerged as one of the most significant political challenges facing Modi since he secured a third term in office in 2024.
Amnesty called for accountability for any unlawful use of force and urged authorities to ensure that future demonstrations are handled according to national law and international human rights standards.
