Wrestlers’ protests turn violent with scuffle with cops, one allegedly injured

After a daylong rain, a fight to deliver more beds to the protestors’ site led to a brutal brawl among protesting wrestlers and Delhi police at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday night.

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, and Dushyant Phogat were hurt in the clash between demonstrators and police. Protesters allegedly were mistreated by police officers, and one officer was accused of being drunk on the job and using slurs towards female demonstrators.

In the late hours of Wednesday, 3 May, a brawl broke out between the protesting wrestlers and the Delhi Police. Several protestors were taken into custody as a result of the brawl, and some have been injured.

After heavy rain in Delhi on Wednesday, Somnath Bharti of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) arrived at Jantar Mantar late at night with folding beds for the wrestlers. However, the Delhi Police stopped Bharti, referring to an absence of permission.

This sparked a fight among the two parties, with the wrestlers joining in. Some wrestlers received injuries as a result of the brawl, including Vinesh Phogat’s cousin brother, Dushyant Phogat, who was taken to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Vinesh claimed that drunk police officers abused her during the altercation.

“I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where were the women police personnel? If you want to kill us, kill us. Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These policemen are holding guns, they can kill us,” Vinesh Phogat told the sources.