Who is Sahil Lochab — student who has lost 99% vision in one eye from pellet injuries sustained during July 20 protests

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, left, sits on dharna at Parliament Street police station demanding registration of FIR over pellet injuries during July 20 protest, in New Delhi. Gandhi, accompanied by the pellet victim, 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, first visited the Mandir Marg police station and sought the registration of the FIR, after his demand was not accepted, he went to the Parliament Street police station and met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sachin Sharma. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma Najafgarh resident 19-year-old Sahil Lochab is a student of Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL). According to his friends and family members, he has always wanted to become a police officer, and was preparing for competitive examinations.Now, his family members say that he has lost 99% of his vision in his right eye due to a pellet injury during the Cockroach Janta Party-led Parliament March on July 20. Sahil Lochab, who suffered pellet gun injuries during the previous month's protests, shows pellets that he says were removed from his bod, in New Delhi, on August 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: Reuters Mr. Sahil and his family are currently trying to get an FIR registered. On Friday (August 21, 2026), Rahul Gandhi visited the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi to support Sahil Lochab. Read updates from Rahul Gandhi’s dharna in DelhiMr. Sahil’s friends and family say that his ideology was inspired by Bhagat Singh. His mother earlier said that Mr. SSahil had gone to the Jantar Mantar protest telling her that “it was important for his studies”. He had also attended the protest prior to July 20 too. A friend said that his participation in the protest stemmed from his interest in education issues, which he has always been vocal about. In the past year, he has been preparing for SSC-CGL (Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level). Following his injury, Mr. Sahil was first taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC), after which, he was transferred to AIIMS Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center, where he underwent surgery. Despite the police’s initial denial, doctors confirmed to The Hindu that the injuries were caused by metal pellets. He sustained multiple pellet injuries on his face and upper body, and many are still lodged in. According to a general diary entry filed at the Parliament Street police station at 1.24 a.m. on July 22, the Rapid Action Force fired two rounds from an anti-riot gun on the directions of an officer of the Deputy Commissioner of Police. Published - August 21, 2026 03:50 pm IST