Delhi Police files FIR against protesting wrestlers after detaining Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia

The wrestlers did not have permission to move towards the new Parliament building, hours after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When they were stopped by police, an ugly scuffle broke out.

The high-handed action against India’s top athletes was condemned by opposition political leaders and a few sportspersons like Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra as scenes of wrestlers being dragged by security forces were witnessed. The wrestlers and their supporters breached the security cordon ahead of their march towards the new Parliament building for the planned women’s ‘Mahapanchayat’.

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Top Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia has been protesting against WFI president Brij Bhushan Singh. (Express Photo by Nihal Koshie)

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The protesting wrestlers were detained by the Delhi Police. (Express Photo by Nihal Koshie)

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Protest site at Jantar Mantar being cleared by police after wrestlers and supporters were detained. (Express Photo by Nihal Koshie)

Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik’s team has posted a tweet saying Delhi police has detained the wrestler.

साक्षी मलिक को दिल्ली पुलिस ने हिरासत में लिया – Tweet by Team pic.twitter.com/GNYswmmU8F

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

“Sakshi Malik has been detained by Delhi Police,” Sakshi Malik’s team put out a tweet from her account.

सभी पहलवानों और बुजुर्गों माताओं को हिरासत में लेने के बाद अब पुलिस जंतर मंतर ने हमारा मोर्चा उखाड़ना शुरू कर दिया है। हमारा सामान उठाया जा रहा है। ये कैसी गुंडागर्दी है ? pic.twitter.com/iaol6QRnr7

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

Videos showed a scuffle breaking out between protesters and police personnel even as the former tried to resist. In one of the videos, a few female police officers can be seen forcefully dragging a woman away from the protest site.

VIDEO | Protesting wrestlers jump over the police barricading at Jantar Mantar to march towards new Parliament building. pic.twitter.com/X8v7GYi3fM

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 28, 2023

The wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar, about two kilometres from the parliament building, had said they will go ahead with their “Mahila Mahapanchayat” near the new building at any cost.

“Mahapanchayat will certainly be held today. We’re fighting for our self-respect.They’re inaugurating the new Parliament building today, but murdering democracy in the country.We appeal to the administration to release our people detained by police,” wrestler Bajrang Punia said.

ये तस्वीर हरियाणा की है. इस महिला नेता का नाम सोनिया दुहन है.

सोनिया 500 महिलाओं का जत्था लेकर जंतर मंत्र आ रही थीं

देखिए कितनी बेरहमी से हिरासत में लिया गया है. pic.twitter.com/kyMBwsSAK8

— Mandeep Punia (@mandeeppunia1) May 28, 2023

Police, however, said no protester will be allowed to move towards the new building as permission has not been granted to hold the “Mahila Mahapanchayat”.

“We respect our athletes, but we will not let there be any disturbance in the inauguration (of the new parliament building),” Dependra Pathak, Special CP, Law and Order, told PTI.

#WATCH | Mahapanchayat will certainly be held today. We’re fighting for our self-respect.They’re inaugurating the new Parliament building today, but murdering democracy in the country.We appeal to the administration to release our people detained by police: Wrestler Bajrang Punia pic.twitter.com/VI4kGLxGWV

— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2023

“Mahapanchayat will certainly be held today. We’re fighting for our self-respect.They’re inaugurating the new Parliament building today, but murdering democracy in the country.We appeal to the administration to release our people detained by police,” wrestler Bajrang Punia said.

To all my international fraternity

Our Prime Minister is inaugurating our new parliament

But on the other hand, Our supporters has been arrested for supporting us.

By arresting people how we can call us “mother of democracy”

India’s daughters are in pain.

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

Earlier, Sakshi Malik has appealed to the international fraternity to extend their support to the protesting wrestlers.

“To all my international fraternity. Our Prime Minister is inaugurating our new parliament. But on the other hand, Our supporters has been arrested for supporting us,” she tweeted.

“By arresting people how we can call us “mother of democracy.” India’s daughters are in pain.”

जंतर मंतर पर सरेआम लोकतंत्र की हत्या हो रही

एक तरफ़ लोकतंत्र के नये भवन का उद्घाटन किया है प्रधानमंत्री जी ने

दूसरी तरफ़ हमारे लोगों की गिरफ़्तारियाँ चालू हैं. pic.twitter.com/ry5Wv9xn5A

— Vinesh Phogat (@Phogat_Vinesh) May 28, 2023

Vinesh Phogat too had echoed the sentiments of her fellow wrestler.

“Democracy is being murdered openly at Jantar Mantar. On one hand the Prime Minister has inaugurated the new building of democracy. On the other hand the arrests of our people are on,” she said in a video posted on her social media accounts.