Wrestlers Protest: The wrestlers, who have been staging a
sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23, alleged that they were bringing folding
beds as their mattresses got wet due to rain but the police did not allow that.
Top wrestler Vinesh Phogat broke down live on camera this
evening after some members of the group she is protesting with were
allegedly roughed up by a Delhi Police personnel. "Did we win medals
to see this day," she said trying to hold back tears.
The protesters alleged a "drunk" police official
attacked two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol, while his colleagues
were mute spectators. "That cop was pushing and shoving everyone,"
said Ms Phogat.
"We are not criminals that they are behaving like this
with us," she added. She also questioned the absence of women police
officers at the spot. "I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where
are the women police personnel" asked Ms Phogat.
An emotional Bajrang Punia, who has won four medals at the
World Wrestling Championships, told NDTV: "I request the government to
take all my medals back".
The wrestlers, who have been staging a sit-in at Jantar
Mantar since April 23, alleged that they were bringing folding beds as their
mattresses got wet due to rain but the police did not allow that.
Three people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath
Bharti, were detained following the incident, police said, adding Mr Bharti
came to the protest site with folding beds without permission.
"On being asked about the beds, his supporters became
aggressive and tried to get the beds from a truck. Subsequently, a minor
altercation took place following which Bharti, along with two others, was
detained," the police said.
The police have sealed the Jantar Mantar area after the
incident and no one will be allowed to enter the protest site, which recorded
attendance of several opposition leaders, and meet the wrestlers.
They wrestlers have levelled allegations of sexual
harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan
Sharan Singh. They have been demanding criminal action against Mr Singh, a BJP
MP from Uttar Pradesh, for the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of
seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor.
He has denied all the allegations, claiming the charges are
baseless, but said he would resign if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP asks
him to.
The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against him on Friday. One
of them has been registered under the stringent Protection of Children from
Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on a minor's complaint.