RAF Internal Review Flags Crowd Control Lapses in CJP Parliament March

An internal operational review by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) concluded that personnel deployed during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20 failed to follow prescribed force-gradient standards, according to official directions issued by Inspector General Seema Dhundhia.

Following reports of pellet gun injuries and unbriefed deployments near Jantar Mantar, the specialized anti-riot unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) ordered an immediate freeze on issuing Pump Action Guns (PAG), anti-riot guns, electric shock weapons, and electric shields to troops deployed in Delhi until further notice.

What we can verify

• SOP Violations Identified: An internal assessment led by IG (RAF) Seema Dhundhia on July 22 flagged serious shortcomings, including inadequate briefing of personnel before deployment, lack of timely coordination with sector headquarters, and officers performing duty without required body armor and helmets.
• Weapon Restraints Ordered: Directives issued following the review prohibit the deployment of PAGs, electric shock weapons, anti-riot guns, and electric shields for crowd control during the present Delhi situation.
• Transfer Restrictions: Troops recently transferred from special operations theaters, including Jammu and Kashmir, are barred from immediate deployment on crowd-control duties in Delhi without undertaking mandatory RAF conversion training.
• Official Confirmation: CRPF Director General Gyanendra Pratap Singh confirmed that a comprehensive professional post-event assessment will be conducted following full dispersal of assembled crowds.

What remains unverified

• The exact identity and medical status of all individuals who sustained injuries during the July 20 march remain under independent review; official hospital records cited in internal reports list three pellet-related injuries, while protester groups claim higher figures [unverified].

Bottom line: The internal review acknowledges systemic failures in applying calibrated crowd control during the July 20 march, establishing strict operational constraints on anti-riot gear for future urban deployments.