A peaceful protest in Delhi turned violent on July 20 when 19-year-old Sahil, a Delhi University student, was allegedly shot in the face with a pellet gun by Delhi Police. The incident has sparked outrage among students and opposition leaders, highlighting deep frustrations over repeated examination irregularities and the lack of accountability in India’s education and recruitment systems.
Sahil, who balances his studies with part-time driving to support his family, is among thousands of aspirants affected by the SSC Delhi Constable exam paper leak in 2025. Despite the scandal, concerns persist that the same vendor responsible for the previous leak has been retained by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) for future examinations, raising fears of another breach.
Students have been protesting at Jantar Mantar and other locations since early June 2026, initially triggered by issues like the NEET-UG paper leaks and broader concerns over CBSE evaluations. The demonstrations escalated on July 20 as protesters marched toward Parliament, leading to clashes with police. Sahil joined the movement to demand justice, fair recruitment processes, and systemic reforms to safeguard the future of India’s youth.
Medical reports indicate that Sahil risks permanent vision loss in one eye due to the injury. His case has become emblematic of the struggles faced by young Indians who, despite hard work and determination, find their aspirations derailed by leaks, delays, and inadequate safeguards.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned the incident and extended support to the affected students. He stated:
“Sahil was peacefully protesting in Delhi on 20th July, he was shot in the face by a pellet gun by Delhi police.
19 year old Sahil is a student at Delhi University. He drives a car part time to support his family. Like thousands of others, he too is a victim of paper leaks the SSC Delhi Constable exam in 2025. Now he’s worried that the SSC has chosen the same vendor again, and that the paper might leak again.
He joined the protests to demand justice and a better future. Now he risks losing vision in one eye permanently.
This is what our students face for asking questions and demanding accountability.
We stand with Sahil. We stand with every student demanding accountability.
Enough is enough. Education Minister Pradhan must resign.”
The statement has amplified calls for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and for an independent probe into both the police action and the recurring paper leak scandals.
Opposition parties and student unions argue that such incidents reflect a failure of governance, where aspirants are penalized for seeking transparency while systemic issues remain unaddressed. The government and SSC have faced repeated criticism over exam conduct, with many demanding stricter vendor oversight, technology upgrades like biometric verification, and swift cancellation/re-examination policies when leaks occur.
As Sahil recovers and protests continue, the episode underscores the urgent need for reforms in India’s competitive examination ecosystem. Students across the country are watching closely, hoping their voices will lead to meaningful change rather than further repression.
