A scuffle that broke out between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar late Wednesday night intensified on Thursday morning. Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who said that a Delhi police personnel manhandled and shoved protesting grapplers, today said "she will return all her medals".
According to Delhi Police, a group of protesters led by AAP leader Somnath Bharti reached the protest carrying folding beds without permission and tried to break the barricades. In a video being circulated on social media, some of the protesters can be heard accusing a police personnel of attacking two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol, news agency PTI reported.
"We will return all the medals won at the international level and those given by the government. To what level, will we tolerate the humiliation? We are being humiliated, dragged to the ground," Phogat said, who also broke down in a late night media interaction on Wednesday, saying that a Delhi Police personnel pushed and manhandled them.
The demonstration in the national capital comes in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh.
"The names of the complainants cannot be revealed. Brij Bhushan is saying on television how he grabbed and hugged women wrestlers. He revealed the names. If he can speak such things on live TV, one can imagine what he must be doing behind the cameras," Phogat said.
Alleging police inaction, the ace wrestler added, "The FIR was registered by the Delhi Police on April 28 but Brij Bhushan has not been arrested. PT Usha said she is with us. She retracted her indiscipline statement."
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Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Malviya Nagar Somnath Bharti was detained from the protest site. Delhi Police said that Bharti reached the area with folding beds without permission. On the other hand, wrestler Geeta Phogat has alleged that her sibling was injured in the brawl with the police.
In an official statement, the police said, "On intervention, the supporters became aggressive in trying to get the beds out of the truck. Subsequently, a minor altercation took place in which Mr Somnath Bharti along with two others was detained.
In visuals, Delhi Police officials and protestors can be heard arguing over a cot.
Speaking to the media from the protest site, Vinesh Phogat said that Delhi Police officials "made them suffer".
"I would not want any athlete to win a medal for the country," said wrestler Vinesh Phogat.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Punia said the protestors were in need of support from the whole country.
"We're in need of the support of the whole country, everyone must come to Delhi. Police using force against us, abusing women and doing nothing against Brijbhushan..." he said.
Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj reached the protesting site in solidarity with the athletes.
Meanwhile, AAP's Sanjay Singh asked on Twitter, "What is happening in the country's capital Delhi?"
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Source : Indiatoday
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