CRPF declined to share details of pellet gun use during youth protests under RTI, TMC leader says

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Saket Gokhale said on Monday that the Central Reserve Police Force declined to share information about its ammunition log and details about the use of pellet guns allegedly by its Rapid Action Force during the youth protests in Delhi on July 20.

Gokhale had sought the details under the Right to Information Act.

The CRPF, which includes the Rapid Action Force, is among the security and intelligence organisations exempted from the Right to Information Act under Section 24. However, the exemption does not apply to information pertaining to allegations of corruption or human rights violations.

Gokhale contended in his application that the details he sought on the use of pellet guns fell under this exception as they pertained to alleged human rights violations.

He had sought a certified copy of the ammunition log and the muster of the RAF contingents deployed in central Delhi on July 20, showing the ammunition drawn, ammunition expended and quantity of each type of munition fired, including pellet, plastic-pellet cartridges and tear smoke shells on the date.

The RTI response from the CRPF that Gokhale shared on social media said that the “allegations made in the application do not attract the exemption relating to violation of human rights”.

The force added in its reply:...

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