Wrestlers Protest Updates: Wrestlers to Return Medals, Matter Closed in SC
The protesting wrestlers have claimed Delhi Police are yet to record testimonies of female grapplers.
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A scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and the Delhi Police in the later hours of Wednesday, 3 March. The brawl resulted in multiple detentions, alongside injuries to some of the protestors.
Following heavy rainfall in Delhi on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) politician Somnath Bharti arrived at Jantar Mantar at night with folding beds for the wrestlers. Delhi Police though stopped Bharti, citing a lack of permission.
This led to a skirmish between the two parties, with the wrestlers also getting involved. The scuffle led to some wrestlers getting injured, including Vinesh Phogat’s cousin brother, Dushyant Phogat, who has been taken to the hospital.
Vinesh, meanwhile, claimed that drunk police officers abused her during the scuffle.
The protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police got into a skirmish in the later hours of 3 May, leading to a couple of wrestlers getting injured.
On Thursday, wrestlers have stated that they are planning to return their medals.
The wrestlers further claimed that Delhi Police are yet to record testimonies of the female grapplers who were sexually harassed by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, despite an FIR being lodged on 28 April.
In a hearing on Thursday, Supreme Court closed proceedings and asked wrestlers to move high court or magistrate.
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Morning After Scuffle, Heavy Barricading at Protest Site
The morning after the scuffle with between the wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar on the night of 3 May, heavy barricading has been placed outside the protest site, restricting access to the protesting wrestlers.
'Do We Not Have the Right To Sleep?' - Vinesh Phogat
Speaking to media on Thursday morning, Vinesh claimed that the wrestlers were peacefully trying to arrange folding beds for them, but the police became aggressive.
On being asked whether Somnath Bharti brought the beds, she said "He was already here, we organised the folding beds ourselves. But even if we agree to what they are saying – that Somnath Bharti brought those beds – do we not have even the right to sleep? The police turned to violence, our fellow wrestlers were injured.”
'Brij Bhushan's IT Cell is Trying to Derail Protests,' Claims Bajrang Punia
Bajrang Punia urged everyone present at Jantar Mantar to not turn the wrestlers' protest into a political issue.
"I don't know why everything is being given a political angle. Yesterday, PT Usha came to talk with us. We also have had people from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming here. This is not a political issue, but Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is trying to use his 'IT cell' to malign us," he said.
Wrestlers Planning To Return Medals
Following last night's incident, the protesting wrestlers have stated that they are planning to return all of their medals.
"When this is the behaviour medal-winning wrestlers are being subjected to, then the medals are not of any use. They can take all of those medals back," said Punia.
Phogat added "They have tarnished our esteem. The wrestlers are crying in the streets, desperately asking for him. If this is what you are doing to us, we don't want to keep the medals we have won for the country. You can take those back."
Police Yet to Record Testimonies
Further explaining mistreatment from the Delhi Police, Vinesh claimed that testimonies are yet to be recorded, despite the FIR being lodged on 28 April.
Chief of DCW, Swati Maliwal, who was detained last night and is currently sitting at the dharna with the wrestlers, said "There are 400 police officers here, can't one of these 400 go and arrest Brij Bhushan? Can't they record the wrestlers' testimonies under section 164? Why are they so invested in saving Brij Bhushan?"
What does the law say?
Unless a statement is made before a magistrate under Sec 164 (or in a few other specific cases such as when any fact is said to have been "discovered” as consequence of information received by the police from the accused), the statement will neither be a confession nor have any evidentiary value.
Large Number of People Can Reach Jantar Mantar: Delhi Police
Delhi Police have stated that they are barricading multiple places in the city, with 'special care' being taken of the roads leading to Central Delhi, with inputs claiming a large mob is headed towards Jantar Mantar.
"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," their statement read.
Supreme Court Hearing Today
Meanwhile, the apex court will be hearing plea of the seven wrestlers, who filed complaints of sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, on Thursday.
Police Are Trying to Safeguard Brij Bhushan: Bajrang Punia
Speaking to the media, Bajrang Punia has now claimed that Delhi Police are actively trying to safeguard Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and launched an attack on wrestlers without any provocation.
"Delhi Police's plan is to scupper the protests and get Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh out of this with no scratches, but through the media, I am confirming again that we will not back down from our stance, come what may," he said.
"The CCTV footage will prove that we were just trying to get our beds peacefully. It were the drunk police officers who turned to violence and started abusing and manhandling us. Three of our wrestlers got injured," Punia further added.
Delhi Police Responds to Swati Maliwal's Claim
Earlier, Delhi Commission of Women's (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal had claimed that police officers forcibly stopped her from entering the dharna site, curbing her constitutional right.
Responding to the claims, Delhi Police have stated that she was let go 'immediately' after being stopped, and there are no restrictions on entry to Jantar Mantar.
"Hon’ble Chairperson DCW was stopped at the barricade by an officer and let go immediately. She is presently inside at the protest site . There is no restriction on individual entry to Jantar Mantar," their statement read.
Vinesh Recounts Incidents Leading to Scuffle
At a press conference, Commonwealth Games medallist Vinesh Phogat recounted incidents which led to the skirmish between protesting wrestlers and the Delhi Police.
Supreme Court Closes Proceedings
As per latest updates from the Supreme Court hearing of the wrestlers' plea, the apex court has decided to close the proceedings, citing the purpose of petition has been fulfilled.
CJI DY Chandrachud stated that the purpose of wrestlers' petition was seeking an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which has already been lodged by the Delhi Police. Accordingly, the apex court closed proceedings, asking the wrestlers to now move high court or magistrate.
"Keeping in mind the ambit of these proceedings, we close the proceedings at this stage. If petitioners wish for something else, they can approach the magistrate or the HC in its jurisdiction," CJI DY Chandrachud said.
Delhi Police Detain 15, Scuffle at Singhu Border
Having previously announced that they will be barricading multiple places in the city, Delhi Police have detained 15 people, including farmers' union leader, Abhimanyu Konar.
"Police have detained around 15 people. Farmers union leader Abhimanyu Kohar was coming from Sonipat to Delhi to support the wrestlers," a statement from the police read.
Taking to Twitter, Konar wrote "Delhi Police has detained us from Singhu border, while committing hooliganism and assaulting elderly farmers. We are now being kept in Bawana Sector 1 police station. People of conscience, please come out of the house for the honor of our sisters and daughters."
No Police Personnel Were Drunk: DCP
Responding to the allegations of a police personnel manhandling the wrestlers in a state of intoxication, the DCP of New Delhi, Pranav Tayal stated that a medical examination was conducted, and no traces of alcohol were found.
"The wrestlers levied allegations of a police officer being in a drunken state. As per their complaints, we conducted a medical examination of that particular person, and no traces of alcohol were found," the DCP stated.