The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has identified serious operational deficiencies in its handling of the July 20 protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and has issued an extensive set of corrective directions, including
a ban on the use of Projectile Attack Guns (PAG), Anti-Riot Guns (ARG), Electric Shock Weapons and Electric Shields during the ongoing deployment in the national capital until further orders.
The directions were issued during a video conference chaired by Inspector General Seema Dhundia on July 22, where senior RAF officers reviewed the force’s role during theprotest, acknowledged shortcomings and laid down 26 corrective measures aimed at improving crowd-control operations, discipline and accountability, a senior level source said quoting a document.
The RAF has also made the use of Body Worn Cameras mandatory during every operation, directed dedicated photography and videography of major incidents, strengthened intelligence monitoring.
The review also criticised videos allegedly showing personnel using force against individuals who had already moved away from the crowd, deliberately pushing people to the ground and striking persons outside barricades, sources said qouting the document.
The meeting minutes reveal that while the CRPF Directorate had appreciated the RAF’s overall deployment at the sector level, the Inspector General, ad per sources said an internal review exposed serious deficiencies in several aspects of the operation that require immediate rectification.
The meeting was attended by 30 officers of RAF.
News18 sent a query to CRPF DG and PRO on whether proper instructions were followed or not and about use of pellet guns but no response has been received.
Serious Dissatisfaction Over Crowd-Control Operation
Inspector General Seema Dhundia expressed “serious dissatisfaction” with the RAF’s performance during the Jantar Mantar protest, observing that several operational shortcomings came to light during introspection.
According to the proceedings, many personnel reached the field without adequate briefing about their duties, leading to confusion on the ground. Commandants were reminded that conducting detailed briefings before deployment and debriefings after every operation is their personal responsibility.
Pellet Guns, Electric Shock Weapons Prohibited
Among the most significant operational decisions, the Inspector General directed that, after assessing the prevailing situation in Delhi, the RAF would not use or issue Projectile Attack Guns (PAG), Anti-Riot Guns (ARG), Electric Shock Weapons or Electric Shields until further orders.
Senior officers were instructed to ensure strict compliance with these directions.
Only Trained Personnel For Crowd-Control Duty
The RAF also decided that personnel who have not undergone RAF Conversion Training should not be deployed for crowd-control duties. If manpower shortages make such deployment unavoidable, they must first receive detailed operational briefings and sensitisation regarding crowd management.
The headquarters further directed that personnel transferred from counter-insurgency environments such as Jammu & Kashmir should not be deployed in crowd-control operations until they are trained in RAF’s crowd-control philosophy and “Sensitive Policing”.
Improper Use Of Force Under Scanner
One of the strongest observations relates to the use of force during the protest. The review found that the Force Gradient adopted during crowd control did not conform to prescribed RAF standards and training doctrine. Officers have now been instructed to assess the nature of the crowd before any action, issue prior warnings wherever necessary and employ force only in a graduated manner using approved crowd-control measures.
The Inspector General also directed that unnecessary or disproportionate force must never be used.
Videos showed personnel without helmets, body protectors
The headquarters took note of videos circulating on social media, saying they showed RAF personnel performing duty without mandatory body protectors and helmets. The document says every future deployment must ensure personnel wear complete protective equipment, including properly fitted and locked helmet visors.
