Amnesty International alleges India used lethal weapons on protesters

Amnesty International has accused Indian security forces of employing lethal weapons against demonstrators who were derogatorily referred to as “cockroaches” by officials. In a statement released on Monday, the human‑rights group said that police used live ammunition and tear‑gas canisters during a series of protests in the capital city, resulting in multiple injuries and at least two fatalities. The protests, which began on Saturday, were organized by a coalition of civil‑society groups opposing recent legislative changes, and participants reported being targeted after police officers publicly used the slur in a televised briefing.

The Indian government has denied the allegations, asserting that the force used was proportionate and that any casualties were the result of unlawful actions by a minority of agitators. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs said an internal inquiry is underway and that the authorities are committed to upholding law and order while respecting the right to peaceful assembly. Amnesty International called for an independent investigation and for the immediate cessation of any use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, emphasizing that the allegations warrant urgent scrutiny by international and domestic monitoring bodies.