Delhi Police Refutes Claims of Gunshot Injury During Protest: What Really Happened?

Clarification from Delhi Police on Protest Injury Claims

New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Delhi Police dismissed rumors circulating on social media regarding a protester allegedly suffering gunshot wounds during the demonstration at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

The police labeled the viral video and the claims associated with it as misleading, emphasizing that there is no medical evidence to support such assertions.

In a statement posted on X, the Delhi Police clarified that the allegations of a protester being shot during the Central Delhi protest were not backed by the medico-legal case (MLC) report generated after the incident.

The police stated, "Claims circulating on social media that a protester sustained gunshot injuries during the July 20, 2026 protest in Central Delhi are not corroborated by the MLC findings."

According to the police, the MLC indicates a lacerated wound near the right tragus (the small cartilage projection close to the ear) and classifies the injury as blunt.

The medical opinion described the injury as simple, with no evidence of a gunshot wound present. Thus, the assertion of a gunshot injury lacks support from the medical findings in the MLC.

The police also urged the public to be cautious when consuming and sharing information on social media.

"The public is advised to verify information through authentic sources before sharing such claims," they added.

A medico-legal case report (MLC) is a medical document created in situations involving injuries or conditions that may necessitate legal scrutiny. Law enforcement agencies often rely on such reports to ascertain the nature of injuries and determine accountability in a case.

The protests in the national capital escalated into violence on July 20 when a group led by the Cockroach Janta Party attempted to march towards Parliament from the Jantar Mantar protest site.

In response, police deployed tear gas and used batons to disperse the crowd, resulting in clashes and numerous detentions.