Jhajjar: The young man for whom Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi staged a protest at a Delhi police station on Friday had once dreamt of joining the Delhi Police. Jhajjar resident Sahil Lochab says that dream came crashing down on July 20, when he was allegedly hit by pellets during a protest at Jantar Mantar and lost vision in his right eye.Sahil, from Bhupania village, drove a taxi alongside his studies to support his family and was preparing for Delhi Police recruitment. He had enrolled in a graduation programme through Delhi University’s School of Open Learning to balance his studies with work.Sahil’s family moved to Najafgarh around 10 years ago. His father Deepak has been disabled since childhood and had worked occasionally as a private taxi driver. Sahil says he began driving at a young age, contributing to household expenses and helping fund his younger brother’s education.Recounting the Jantar Mantar incident, Sahil said he suddenly felt pellets strike his chest, arm and right eye. “When I turned around, I saw a person in a blue uniform carrying a large firearm, from which several pellets were fired,” he alleged.His face, hand, chest and eye began bleeding and he lost vision in the right eye, he said. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital before being referred to Safdarjung Hospital and subsequently AIIMS.Sahil alleged that paramilitary personnel used pellet guns during the protest and he had sought an impartial investigation to establish who fired the pellets and under what circumstances.During his treatment at AIIMS, Sahil said, a team associated with Rahul Gandhi contacted him and helped arrange treatment and assistance for his family. He said Rahul Gandhi met him twice, once during a press conference and later at Parliament Street police station on Friday, when the FIR was registered.Sahil alleged that he approached Connaught Place and Parliament Street police stations several times seeking action but was sent back without the response he expected. He claimed that after Rahul Gandhi reached the Parliament Street police station, an FIR against unidentified persons was registered about six hours later.For Sahil, the injury has put his career plans and his family’s finances at risk. “I used to drive a taxi alongside my studies to support my family. I had dreamed of joining the Delhi Police. After losing the sight in my eye, it feels as if everything is over,” Sahil said.
