A New York Times analysis details the July 20 crackdown on unarmed protesters in New Delhi that has provoked public outrage and accusations of excessive force. The police deployed pellet guns, sticks, and tear gas to disperse the youth march, which was organized in response to a recent student protest. Footage of the confrontation, showing demonstrators fleeing from rubber bullets and smoke, went viral, amplifying criticism of the authorities' tactics.

Officials defended the action as necessary to maintain order, but civil society groups condemned the severity of the response. The incident has reignited debates over police accountability and the use of non-lethal weapons in India's democratic protests. The New York Times investigation highlights the tension between state security measures and public dissent in the region.