Veteran wrestlers protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar have alleged that a group of drunken Delhi Police personnel targeted them late in the evening when they wanted to bring mattresses for the night after a day’s rain. . They said that the policemen manhandled them and misbehaved with the women wrestlers. Several wrestlers were hit on the head and two of them sustained injuries. One person who fainted had to be taken to the hospital.
In an official statement, the Delhi Police said: “During the protest at Jantar Mantar, Shri Somnath Bharti came to the protest site with a folding bed without permission. On being interrogated, the protester became aggressive in trying to get out of the bed.” Truck. Thereafter, a minor brawl took place in which Somnath Bharti was detained along with 2 others.
Such violence is a first for Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site of the national capital. Visuals close to midnight showed the wrestlers arguing with uniformed members of the Delhi Police. Several people on camera identified one of the policemen who allegedly targeted them. The injured wrestler was later identified as Rahul Rao.
“An inebriated policeman Dharmendra abused Vinesh Phogat and manhandled us,” former wrestler Rajveer was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.
“We were trying to set up a wooden fold-away bed as the floor was wet. The policeman jumped in and stopped us – did not wait for a lady policeman and just started pushing us. Some of us were hit with sticks. Hit on the head.” Olympian Vinesh Phogat said at a press conference after midnight. “Did we win medals for the country to see days like this… where were the women policemen when the constable was pushing us?” she added, breaking down. Used to be.
Ace wrestler Bajrang Punia broke down in an exclusive interview with NDTV. “I request the government to take back all the medals won by me,” he said.
Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti said the police detained him for supporting the wrestlers’ demand for mattresses.
Strange situation, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is not enjoying despite having POCSO FIR against him but just because I supported the demand of women wrestlers for a foldable cot to avoid the rain soaked area of Jantar Mantar done, I was detained at the Hw BN Mandir Marg police station. https://t.co/CtDmf5DFzqpic.twitter.com/v6ClVXLByO
— Advocate Somnath Bharti: Nothing is greater than humanity! (@attorneybharti) May 3, 2023
“We are getting news from sources that the wrestlers and their comrades have been attacked by the police at Jantar Mantar. This is a direct play with our pride! Brothers and sisters of our country have to come forward for the rights of sisters and daughters. ” Will go to Jantar Mantar in the morning!” Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Singh tweeted.
Read a rough translation of a Hindi tweet by Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Geeta Phogat, “Police attack on wrestlers at Jantar Mantar in which my younger brother Dushyant Phogat’s head was severed and another wrestler was also injured, very Shameful.”
Wrestlers were attacked by the police at Jantar Mantar, in which my younger brother Dushyant Phogat was beheaded and another wrestler was also hurt, this is very similar
— Geeta Phogat (@geeta_phogat) May 3, 2023
Wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at the venue for 11 days demanding the removal of BJP MP and chief of the country’s wrestling federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing some top wrestlers.
The MP has denied any wrongdoing, but added that he is ready to step down if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the BJP asks him to.
The wrestlers had earlier had an argument with the police over generators and fans and even bringing food and medicine. Delhi Police is guarding round the clock at both the gates of the protest site at Jantar Mantar.