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Wrestler Protest LIVE: If treated like this, what will we do with medals? says Bajrang Punia
4 min read . Updated: 04 May 2023, 11:13 AM IST
PremiumWrestlers, who have been protesting in Jantar Mantar for days now, alleged that Delhi Police personnel manhandled and abused them on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police stated that the supporters of wrestlers became aggressive after they were stopped from taking folding beds at the protest site which they were not allowed, leading to the chaos.
"Folding beds were brought to the protest site in Jantar Mantar. Since there was no permission, we didn't allow it, so some of the supporters of the protesting wrestlers tried to take out the beds from the truck and this led to an altercation," DCP Pranav Tayal said.
Following a scuffle between the two sides, several supporters of the wrestlers were detained including Congress leader Deepender Hooda and AAP leader Somnath Bharti.
Catch the latest updates:
04 May 2023, 11:13:34 AM IST
Heavy security at Jantar Mantar
Heavy security was deployed at the Jantar Mantar site here in the national capital on Thursday after a ruckus broke out late last night between protesting wrestlers and some police personnel.
Delhi Police said that DCPs of all districts in Delhi have been asked to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. They said that Police have received inputs that a large number of people can reach Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers are protesting.
Special care is to be taken on roads which go towards Central Delhi, barricades have been put up at several places, Delhi Police said.
04 May 2023, 11:04:38 AM IST
If treated like this, what will we do with medals? says Bajrang Punia
After the scuffle, wrestler Bajrang Punia on Thursday expressed, “If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? Rather we will live a normal life & return all the medals & awards to the Indian Government,"
04 May 2023, 10:40:01 AM IST
DCPs of all districts in Delhi on alert
DCPs of all districts in Delhi have been asked to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. Special care is to be taken on roads which go towards Central Delhi, barricades have been put up at several places. Police have received some inputs that a large number of people can reach Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers are protesting: Delhi Police.
04 May 2023, 10:14:04 AM IST
AAP calls meeting to discuss scuffle
AAP calls a meeting of MLAs, councillors to discuss police-wrestlers scuffle
04 May 2023, 09:28:09 AM IST
Safeguarded the country's honour and won us many medals: Congess slams Amit Shah
The Congress on Thursday hit out at Union Minister Amit Shah and the Delhi Police under him over a scuffle between police and the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar
Tagging a video of Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik breaking down and her colleague Vinesh Phogat consoling her, the Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, "These are the daughters of our country, safeguarded the country's honour and won us many medals. Today the police of Home Minister Amit Shah are misbehaving with them."
Their only crime is that they are raising their voice against exploitation, the Congress said.
"Narendra Modi ji, why are you doing this injustice?" the party said.
04 May 2023, 09:15:43 AM IST
DCW Chief forcefully arrested
DCW Chief, woman sitting on a constitutional post, was forcefully arrested and taken into a vehicle.
DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said, I have come to meet the girls (wrestlers) again since it is my duty. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat & Sakshi Malik told us they were being tortured, & there were police officers who were drunk & misbehaved with them. I am concerned for their safety. Why is Delhi Police protecting Brij Bhushan? Why is Delhi Police not arresting him?
04 May 2023, 09:03:06 AM IST
Took me into custody outside the dharna: Deepender Hooda
Congress leader Deepender Hooda, who was detained last night, said, Just now, when I reached Jantar Mantar to inquire about the condition of the sportsperson daughters, the Delhi Police took me into custody outside the dharna and have now brought me to the Vasant Vihar police post.
04 May 2023, 08:59:16 AM IST
What led to th late night scuffle?
Police said, "There were a few men who tried bringing cots to the protest site. When the policemen deployed at the spot asked them about the cots, they got aggressive and the protesters joined them.."
Meanwhile, former wrestler Rajveer told PTI, "The mattresses got wet due to rain, so we were bringing folding beds for sleeping, but the police did not allow that. Drunk policeman Dharemendra abused Vinesh Phogat and got involved in a scuffle with us."
"They started hitting us. Bajrang Punia's brother-in-law Dushyant and Rahul suffered head injuries. The police did not even let doctors reach the site. Even the women constables were misbehaving with us," he said.
Police claimed protestors wrongfully restrained a policeman and accused him of being drunk, which was not the case. Police personnel are at the site and the situation is now under control. No protester was beaten up
04 May 2023, 08:25:30 AM IST
Heavy security at Jantar Mantar
The Delhi Police on Thursday morning deployed heavy security at Jantar Mantar where a scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some police personnel, leading to head injuries to a couple of protesters
Multiple layers of barricades have been put up around the protest site and no one is being allowed in.
04 May 2023, 07:43:24 AM IST
Drunk policeman abused me: Vinesh Phogat
The World Championships and Commonwealth Games medalist Vinesh Phogat accused the policemen of being drunk, pushing, and abusing women protestors.
"He is drunk. He hit someone on his head. He abused me and pushed several women protestors," claimed Vinesh.
Ace wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Mallikh and other top grapplers were protesting against sexual harassment charges against the WFI chief and they are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan.
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