Couldn’t compromise on security during new Parliament inauguration, hence stopped protesters: Delhi Police in FIR

The FIR was registered on the complaint of a head constable posted at Barakhamba Road police station. In his complaint, he said the police had deployed sufficient staff ahead of the Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat. It reads: “Around 10.30 am, the wrestlers held a press conference saying they will hold a Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat at the new Parliament House… Senior officers informed the protesters that the new Parliament House is the top democratic institution.”

The police said the new building is a “matter of pride and glory for the nation… Its security can’t be compromised. We told them to protest at notified site i.e. Jantar Mantar.” The complainant said that around 11.30 am, the protesters started sloganeering and moving towards the first line of barricades. They were led by Punia, Phogat and Malik. He said senior officers used a loud hailer to inform the protesters again that crossing the barricades and breaking the law will “harm national prestige”.

The police said section 144 CrPc was imposed in the area. “Despite repeatedly telling protesters to stop, they didn’t listen. They went ahead, jumped the first barricades and pushed the police and reached the second barricade line where again the police personnel tried to stop them. However, they continued pushing police and also they pushed away barricades…”

“They started running towards us. More force came there and with great difficulty managed to overpower them (protesters) and detain them. While trying to stop the protesters, we were manhandled and assaulted… Police personnel sustained injuries,” reads the FIR.

The FIR was lodged against the wrestlers under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act at Parliament Street police station.

It mentions the names of three male and 12 female police personnel who were injured during the protest and were taken to the hospital. The police said a total of 109 persons were detained from the protest site. The FIR also names 12 people as detainees and accused, including Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, Harendra Punia, Satyawart Kadian and state president of Bhartiya Kisan Union Suman Hooda.