A blame game erupted between the Delhi Police and protesting wrestlers on Thursday over the late-night scuffle at Jantar Mantar here which also led to a political slugfest and a threat by the grapplers to return their medals and awards including Padma Shri to the government.
As the protests at Jantar Mantar entered the 12th day, the Delhi Police denied allegations by the wrestlers that its personnel were drunk and used force against them on Wednesday night. New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) PranavTayal said five police personnel including two women were injured. The wrestlers, on the other hand, alleged they were beaten up by the police and that a couple of them sustained head injuries.
The police intensified its security arrangements at the protest site by deploying extra force, installing CCTV cameras, putting up multiple barricades and keeping a strict vigil at the border points of the national capital to prevent the entry of farmers.
A group of farmers coming to Delhi to express solidarity with the wrestlers was stopped by the city police at the Singhu border, with officials saying 24 of them were detained. DCP Tayal said sufficient number of women officers were on duty on Wednesday night. “No force was used by police personnel against the protestors. Regarding injury to one protestor, he left the hospital against medical advice and has not given a statement to the police yet,” the DCP tweeted from his official handle. He also said that on medical examination, no police personnel were found drunk.
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat and other grapplers accused Delhi Police of working in favour of the federation’s president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and urged them to release the protestors being detained. The protesting wrestlers have made it clear that they won’t move until they get justice and Brij Bhushan be removed as the WFI chief and put behind bars.
The Supreme Court, meanwhile, closed the proceedings on a petition by women wrestlers accusing Wrestling Federation of India(WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment, noting FIRs have been filed by the Delhi Police against him and that the seven complainants including a minor were provided adequate security.
The court was also told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that statements of five complainants, including the minor, have been recorded under section 161 of the CrPC.
Putting up a brave face after the apex court order, the protesting wrestlers said it was not a setback for them and they will continue their agitation till Brij Bhushan, a BJP MP, was arrested.
