Wednesday at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police and protesting wrestlers engaged in an altercation, according to the news agency ANI.
After the altercation, wrestler Bajrang Punia told ANI, “We need the support of the entire nation; everyone must come to Delhi. The police are employing force against us, mistreating women, and taking no action against Brijbhushan.”
In addition, he has requested that farmers and their representatives gather at the protest site on Thursday.
The Delhi Police’s arrogance is no longer effective. We will invite a large number of farmers to convene here. We will no longer tolerate it. Tractors or carts. “Come with whatever you have,” he said.
Wednesday evening, the DCP of New Delhi, Pranav Tayal, stated that a group of demonstrators led by AAP leader Somnath Bharti entered the protest site without permission.
“They attempted to breach the barricades there, which was endorsed by the protesting wrestlers. The police intervened and prevented them from causing a disturbance,” he reported.
He added, “We have detained Bharti and two of his supporters.”
Former wrestler Rajveer told the news agency PTI, “The mattresses were damp from the rain, so we planned to bring folding beds for sleeping, but the police prohibited us from doing so. The intoxicated officer Dharemendra assaulted the wrestler Vinesh Phogat and got into a brawl with us.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha met with the protesting wrestlers, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Vinesh Phogat, who had been camped at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for more than a week in order to report sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh.
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Her visit occurs days after she stated that the wrestlers’ public exhibition constituted “indiscipline” and that their actions “tarnished India’s image.” She also criticized them for not first filing their complaint with the IOA.
Since April 23, the wrestlers have been conducting a sit-in at Jantar Mantar. They have made sexual harassment allegations against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also an MP for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
On Friday, the Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the WFI president based on the wrestlers’ allegations of sexual harassment.
#WATCH | Delhi: A scuffle breaks out between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar pic.twitter.com/gzPJiPYuUU
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023
#WATCH | Delhi: A scuffle breaks out between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar pic.twitter.com/gzPJiPYuUU
— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2023