Wrestlers Detained After Scuffle With Police; Jantar Mantar Protest Site Cleared

New Delhi: Delhi Police and security personnel stopped and detained protesting wrestlers on Sunday when they tried to breach the security cordon and tried to march towards the new Parliament building from Jantar Mantar, their protest site.

The likes of Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers had planned to hold a women’s Mahapanchayat in front of the new Parliament to draw attention to their continued protest against Wresting Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and press for his arrest.

There were chaotic scenes as wrestlers and police officials shoved and pushed each other.

All protesters were detained and forcefully put into buses by police.

“They have been detained for violating law and order. We will take legal action after inquiry in due course of time,” said Dependra Pathak, Special CP, Law & Order.

Sakshi’s team claimed that she had been dragged and pushed into a bus, hurting the Olympic medallist. “Some channels are spreading rumour that Sakshi beat a policeperson, but this a complete lie,” the team tweeted from her official Twitter handle in Hindi, adding that police had misbehaved with her.

कुछ चैनल ये अफ़वाह फैला रहे हैं कि साक्षी मलिक ने किसी पुलिसवाले को मारा, ये खबर सरासर झूठ है। साक्षी को बुरी तरह खींचकर Live कैमरा के सामने बस में ठूसा गया, वो दर्द में हैं। उन्हें हिरासत में डराया गया और ख़राब व्यवहार किया गया।

– Sakshi Malik’s team pic.twitter.com/JCvqG6m8Dr

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

Police officials were seen clearing the protest site, where the wrestlers had resumed their agitation against the WFI chief, who has been accused of sexually harassing a number of female grapplers including a minor.

Hundreds of police personnel were deployed at Delhi borders and the area around the new Parliament, and multiple layers of barricades were put in place to ensure the inauguration ceremony went off without a hitch.

Khap panchayat leaders and farmers who were planning to join the march of protesting wrestlers were stopped at ITO road, Tikri border and Singhu border.

Farmers and khap leaders were detained at different places.

Police were determined not to let any protester move towards the new Parliament building as permission has not been granted to hold the mahapanchayat.