PremiumWrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Wrestlers, who have been protesting in Jantar Mantar against WFI chief Brij Bhushan accusing him of sexual harassment, alleged that Delhi Police personnel manhandled and abused them on Wednesday night. The Delhi Police has, however, defended itself saying that some supporters of protesting wrestlers became aggressive after they were stopped from taking folding beds at the protest site which, cops said, were not allowed to do, leading to chaos. Catch Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates at LiveMint
Following a scuffle between the two sides, several supporters of the wrestlers were detained including Congress leader Deepender Hooda and AAP leader Somnath Bharti. Stay tuned to LiveMint for Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal on Thursday morning was spotted with the wrestlers at the protest site at Jantar Mantar, informed Deputy Commisioner of Police.
"Hon'ble Chairperson DCW was stopped at the barricade by an officer and let go immediately. She is presently inside the protest site. There is no restriction on individual entry to Jantar Mantar," tweeted DCP.
A day after a scuffle between agitating wrestlers and police personnel, the police Thursday beefed up security and surveillance at Jantar Mantar and at Delhi borders, deploying additional manpower, bolstering CCTV coverage and raising barricades to prevent the entry of farmers who were coming to support the grapplers.
The late night ruckus on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar left injured two wrestlers, and according to the police five of their personnel as well. Amid the high-drama, the wrestlers had appealed to farmers and their leaders to come to the protest site this morning.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday condemned the scuffle between police personnel and wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging the police was "torturing" them.
Gehlot urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take cognisance of the incident.
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said the wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar is not a political issue but a fight for justice.
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23. They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh.
Speaking to reporters in Rohtak, Hooda said the wrestlers' protest is not a political issue but a fight for justice.
"Everyone should rise above party politics and support the sportspersons because these players are the pride of our country," he said.
On the scuffle between the protesters and Delhi Police personnel on Wednesday night, the former Haryana chief minister said, "Police personnel are the protectors. If they misbehave, then who will the players trust?"
"The job of the police is not to torture the victims but to provide them justice," he said.
Later in the day, Hooda visited Jantar Mantar and met the protesters. (PTI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: The Opposition on Thursday attacked the Centre over a scuffle between the Delhi Police and the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar here and termed the incident as "shameful", with the Congress demanding a court-monitored investigation into the entire episode.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal attacked the BJP over the issue and highlighted the plight of the women wrestlers.
The Congress called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, against whom the wrestlers are protesting. The party urged the PM to show "sensitivity" to the protesting grapplers by visiting them at Jantar Mantar.
Rahul Gandhi in a tweet condemned the "manhandling" of female wrestlers. "Such behaviour with the players of the country is shameful."
"'Beti Bachao' is just hypocrisy. In fact, the BJP has never shied away from committing atrocities on the daughters of the country," Gandhi said in his tweet in Hindi, while sharing a video of the players in which they are seen accusing the police of beating them up.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tagged a video of wrestlers breaking down and said it was sad to see the tears of female sportspersons who brought laurels for the country with hard work and dedication.
"They should be heard and justice must be done," Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh called the last night's development "embarrassing".
"The Prime Minister talks about women power in Karnataka and in Delhi the daughters who bring laurels to the country are being tortured. Break your silence, take Brij Bhushan's resignation!" he said in a tweet in Hindi.
Congress' media department head Pawan Khera in a tweet said, "Mr Prime Minister, it will take you just 15 min to visit these wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. Show some sensitivity."
"Please don't let the world say that Indian govt has betrayed India's daughters," he said. (PTI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: A large number of people from different walks of life, including farmers from neighbouring states of Delhi and DU students, reached Jantar Mantar on Thursday and expressed solidarity with the wrestlers protesting there demanding the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Many of them raised slogans in support of the wrestlers, a day after a scuffle broke out between the grapplers and Delhi Police personnel. A couple of wrestlers were injured in the ruckus late Wednesday night that started allegedly over putting wooden beds at the protest site. The wrestlers also accused a policeman of manhandling them in a drunken state, but the Delhi Police denied they used force on the protesters.
Several videos of the tense situation was circulated on social media and grappler Bajrang Punia at a press conference appealed to farmers and their leaders to reach the protest site Thursday morning to support them. (PTI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday condemned the scuffle between police personnel and wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging the police was "torturing" them.
Gehlot urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to take cognisance of the incident.
"When Rahul Gandhi spoke about the harassment of women during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Delhi Police reached (his residence) to seek information about the women. Now that the champion daughters, who made the country proud, are demanding justice for many days at Jantar Mantar after complaining about their harassment, the Delhi Police is torturing them instead of taking action on their complaint," Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi.
"The Union Home Minister should take cognizance of the incident," he added. (PTI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Amid the ongoing protest by top wrestlers in the national capital, the Delhi Police told the Supreme Court that proper security has been provided to the grapplers including a minor complainant.
Several top wrestlers of the country have been staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar since April 23 and have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Top wrestlers are staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar after filing a complaint at the Connaught Place police station on April 21 stating that seven female wrestlers, including one minor, were harassed and exploited by Brij Bhushan in his capacity as Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief. The Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) too issued a notice to Delhi Police to register an FIR on the issue.
Following a petition filed by wrestlers regarding their security, Delhi Police today told the Supreme Court that it has provided security to wrestlers.
After observing the petition's purpose has been served, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud closed the matter at this stage.
Supreme Court noted that the purpose of the wrestlers' petition has been served as an FIR was registered and security has been provided to wrestlers including a minor complainant.
The top court said, "We close the proceedings at this stage. Further petitioners can approach the magistrate or the High Court in its jurisdiction if they wish for something else." (PTI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Hours after a scuffle between wrestlers and Delhi Police at the Jantar Mantar protest site, India's ace grappler Bajrang Punia on Thursday said that wrestlers are willing to return to the government the medals, which they have won for the country over the years if police continue to dishonour them.
Punia alleges that drunk cops manhandled wrestlers late on Wednesday night when they wanted to bring in folding beds to the protest site.
"If the honour of the medal is like this, what will we do with this medal? It is better that we lead a modest life and return the medals, we have won, to the Government of India. Police do not see that he is Padma Shri. At that time they didn't honour that award. They were drunk and mistreated wrestlers by pushing and abusing," Punia told reporters at the Jantar Mantar protest site.
Some of India's top wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sakshee Mallikh, have been protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment, demanding his arrest. Singh, the six-time MP has denied the allegations.
On Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president PT Usha met the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar. (ANI)
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Coming in support of the protesting wrestlers and their supporters, Sharad Pawar said, Delhi police's unjust behaviour towards the young women studying at Delhi University who took out a march in support of the agitating women wrestlers is sad and disturbing. Strongly Condemn the Police Brutalities on Peaceful Protests and I personally appeal to Honourable Home Minister of India to look into the matter.
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: SC closes proceedings on the wrestlers' petition. It clarifies it has closed the proceedings since the prayers in the petition have been fulfilled.
“FIRs have already been registered and they have been given security."
The bench also doesn't agree to pass any order at this stage on monitoring of the investigation by any retired judge of a high court or the Supreme Court. It said wrestlers can move the high court or the jurisdictional magistrate for other reliefs.
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: Vinesh Phogat tweets, no letter has been written to anyone on behalf of us players.
Wrestlers Protest News LIVE Updates: 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.
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,"
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.
AAP calls a meeting of MLAs, councillors to discuss police-wrestlers scuffle
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.
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?
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.
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
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.
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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