A document seen by Newslaundry shows that a Deputy Commissioner of Police, acting with the powers of an Executive Magistrate, authorised the Rapid Action Force to use tear gas, lathi charge and firearms against protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

This document is separate from a general diary entry at Parliament Street police station, reported earlier by The Hindu, which recorded a second officer of DCP rank authorising the use of the pellet gun against the same protest. Together, the two records indicate that authorisations for such force against the July 20 protest were issued by more than one officer of DCP rank.

The document names Sachin Sharma, DCP New Delhi, as the officer who issued the authorisation to disperse........

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