Public safety must never come at the cost of lifelong disability

NCCI-IDEA Appeals for disability- sensitive policing and review of disability –producing crowd-control weapons

What happened on July 20^th 2026 protest, Crowd-Control Measures, and Disability Concerns

The “Sansad Chalo” protest in New Delhi on 20 July 2026 saw large mobilisation and confrontation near Parliament. According to The Hindu, police used barriers, detentions, pellet-firing devices, and electric-shock batons to disperse crowds. The operation reportedly led to injuries among protesters and some police personnel, with concerns over eye injuries, neurological harm, and possible permanent disability. Following the incident, disability-rights organisations raised strong concerns and called for a nationwide ban on pellet guns and electric-shock batons, stating that these cannot be considered “less-lethal” due to their potential to cause blindness and irreversible disability.

Judicial Scrutiny and Civil Society Concerns

The events of 20^th July 2026 are under judicial consideration, with the Delhi High Court directing preservation of CCTV footage and related evidence, and the Supreme Court of India examining connected petitions. The matter remains sub-judice, and questions of legality and responsibility are yet to be decided. Civil society and disability-rights groups, as reported in The Hindu, have called for a transparent, independent, time-bound investigation into the use of force. They stress that accountability discourse must include the disability-producing impact of crowd-control weapons.

Appeal for Disability Safe Policing

The Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment program of the National Council of Churches in India urges Government of India  to review and abandon use of pellet guns, electric-shock batons, and other crowd-control tools that may cause irreversible disability. And call for disability-inclusive policing reforms, including accessible warnings, safer de-escalation methods, improved training, and independent monitoring. Persons with disabilities face higher risks during dispersal and may be unable to respond quickly to warnings. NCCI–IDEA affirms that public safety and human dignity must be protected together, in line with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.

Rev Ribin John,                                                                                                           
Executive Secretary,
Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment                                                     
National Council of Churches in India                       

                      
Mr Nelson Nazarit Nag
Program Executive,
Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment                                                     
National Council of Churches in India