Student loses near-total vision after pellet injuries during July protests

Sahil Lochab, a student activist, has suffered near-complete vision loss in one eye following pellet injuries sustained during protests on July 20. Medical examinations confirmed that 99% of his vision in the affected eye has been lost, leaving him with severely compromised eyesight.

According to those close to him, Lochab's activism was shaped by ideological principles traced to the independence movement, with family and friends citing influence from figures like Bhagat Singh. His case has become emblematic of the physical toll inflicted on demonstrators during the street confrontations.

The injury raises broader questions about the use of pellet ammunition by law enforcement agencies during crowd control operations. Medical professionals and human rights advocates have previously flagged concerns over the indiscriminate nature of such projectiles and their capacity to cause permanent, debilitating harm to civilians.

Lochab's case adds to documented accounts of protester injuries from the July demonstrations, with civil society groups calling for greater accountability in policing methods and restrictions on non-lethal weapons that can cause severe permanent damage.