New Delhi: After a report by The Hindu confirmed that there is a general diary entry at New Delhi’s Parliament Street police station which records a second officer of DCP rank authorising the use of the pellet gun against the protest, it is now emerging that a Deputy Commissioner of Police, acting with the powers of an Executive Magistrate, authorised the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in writing to use tear gas, lathi charge and firearms against unarmed protesters at Jantar Mantar on Monday, July 20.Authorisations for such force against the July 20 protest in the heart of the national capital, therefore, were issued by more than one officer of DCP rank. Delhi Police reports directly to the Union home minister, Amit Shah.The Indian Express reports that the RAF fired “the Anti-Riot Gun twice on orders of a Deputy Commissioner of Police or DCP” during the march on July 20. It also cites sources to say that the police has submitted its report to the Home Ministry.The Press Information Bureau had denied the use of pellet guns and is yet to retract the denial. Amit Shah is increasingly under pressure to answer for police brutality and excesses on unarmed marchers on July 20. He was absent during the House proceedings a day ago on July 28, as was PM Narendra Modi. Later in the evening, Shah held meetings in his parliamentary office with Home Secretary Govind Mohan and the Intelligence Bureau chief, Mahesh Dixit who has just taken charge this month.The document that Newslaundry is citing names Sachin Sharma, DCP New Delhi, as the officer who issued the authorisation to “disperse demonstrators”. It is titled “card to be provided by RAF/CRPF contingent officer” and bears his signature. It states: “I, Sachin Sharma, Executive Magistrate of the highest rank present at New Delhi District, Jantar Mantar, acting under Section 149 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Section 130 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973), require No. 104., Rank Assistant Commandant Dilwar of Unit D/103, to disperse the unlawful assembly using gas/lathi charge/fire arms and/or to arrest and confine the persons forming part thereof (with the help of the armed forces under his command) at 5 pm (approximately) on 20/07/26 at 1700 hours in New Delhi district.”The Wire had reported and captured on video, the use of a 12-bore pump-action gun. But security forces had then not confirmed the use. The use would have required written authorisation signed by the Executive Magistrate.The previously reported diary entry ordered the RAF to act to control protesters during the CJP protest. It reads, “on the orders of Zone-1, DCP, Jantar Mantar,” the RAF Deputy Commandant fired “55 rounds of non-electrical shell, 15 rounds of electrical shell, five tear smoke granite, two rounds using ballistic cartridges with plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun.” The RAF, the anti-riot unit of the paramilitary, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was deployed and was under the operational control of the Delhi Police at the time of the incident.Section 70(1)(b) of the Delhi Police Act, 1978 makes it possible to confer the powers of an Executive Magistrate on police officers of the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police and above. A DCP, being a rank above ACP, can therefore exercise those powers.Also Read: 12 Questions About Police Brutality on Students in Delhi Amit Shah Must AnswerNewslaundry writes that it has reached out to DCP Sachin Sharma to ask “why he authorised the use of firearms against protesters.” The Times of India quotes the CRPF DG GP Singh as saying that the matter was “sub-judice” and all findings would be shared with the Supreme Court. The newspaper cites RAF sources as saying that the use of force and pellet gun use on July 20 “was authorised by Delhi Police, in line with SOPs and the law.”