Wrestlers Protest: Clash between wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar, Bajrang alleges force is being used agains

Pankaj Prasad
Clash between wrestlers and Delhi Police
Clash between wrestlers and Delhi Police

The wrestlers resumed their protest at Jantar Mantar from 23 April, citing delay in reports.

A clash broke out between the wrestlers and the police who were staging a sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on late Wednesday night. The wrestlers allege that they had ordered beds because of the rain. The police stopped before reaching the picket site. Meanwhile, there was a scuffle between the police and the protesters. According to reports, two wrestlers including Dushyant Phogat have been hurt. At the same time, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti, who reached Jantar Mantar with folding, has been taken into custody by the police. Later he was released. After this incident, security has been increased at Jantar Mantar.

At the same time, wrestler Bajrang Punia alleges that the policemen abused and assaulted the protesting women wrestlers. We need the support of the entire country, everyone should come to Delhi, he said. Police is using force against us. Abusing women and not doing anything against Brijbhushan. Apart from this, the wrestlers have also alleged that some outsiders created ruckus after drinking alcohol and also misbehaved.


Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik burst into tears

Whereas, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik broke down while talking to the media late at night. He said that she is a sportsperson who has brought laurels to the country, but she is being treated like a criminal. With tears in her eyes, World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat said that if you want to kill us, then kill us. Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We haven't even eaten our food. Do men have the right to misbehave with women? These policemen are holding guns, they can kill us. Vinesh said, where are the women police officers? How can male officers push us like this. We are not criminals. Drunk police officer killed my brother.

statement of police officer

DCP Pranav Tayal told that during the strike of wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti reached the protest site with a bed without permission. When the police intervened, the supporters became aggressive and tried to remove the beds from the truck. After this, a minor brawl took place and Somnath Bharti along with two other people have been detained. He said that we have asked the wrestlers to register their complaints, we will take appropriate action on them. The medical checkup of the policeman, who has been accused of misbehaving by the wrestlers, is being done.


Police sealed the picket site

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal President and MP Jayant Chaudhary as well as many Aam Aadmi Party leaders reached Jantar Mantar in support of the wrestlers, but the police did not allow them to go near the wrestlers. The police have sealed the site of the wrestlers' dharna. No one is being allowed near them. On the other hand, the wrestlers have appealed to the countrymen to come to Jantar Mantar to show their support. At the same time, Delhi Women's Commission Chairperson Swati Maliwal and Congress MP Deepender Hooda, who reached the spot, were taken into custody by the police.

Geeta Phogat said- my brother's head was broken

India's veteran wrestler Geeta Phogat tweeted on the matter. He wrote, β€œAttack on wrestlers by the police at Jantar Mantar, in which my younger brother Dushyant Phogat was beheaded and another wrestler was also injured. This is very shameful.

PT Usha met wrestlers

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, President of the Indian Olympic Association PT Usha reached Delhi's Jantar Mantar to meet the wrestlers. During this he also talked to Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Sangeeta Phogat. PT Usha appealed to the wrestlers to end the strike. He met the wrestlers for about an hour. PT Usha assured all possible help in the matter.

PT Usha criticized the wrestlers

Indian Olympic Association President PT Usha had said after the IOA Executive Committee meeting – it is indiscipline for wrestlers to perform on the road. This is tarnishing the image of India. This statement was also opposed by Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat.

Wrestlers have been protesting since April 23

Following a protest led by some of the country's leading wrestlers in January this year, the sports ministry announced the formation of a 'monitoring committee' to look into the allegations leveled against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and other coaches Was. The committee was tasked to submit a report on the issue to the ministry. The wrestlers had started protesting at Jantar Mantar from April 23, citing delay in reports.