In a disturbing turn of events, a group of wrestlers, including Olympians and Commonwealth Games champions, were allegedly manhandled by the Delhi Police during a protest march in the national capital. The wrestlers had gathered at Jantar Mantar, Delhi’s designated protest site, to voice their concerns and demand action against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing several women wrestlers, including a minor.
According to eyewitness accounts and videos shared on social media, Delhi police personnel were seen using excessive force against the athletes. The videos depicted wrestlers being shoved, pushed, pinned down to the ground, and forcibly dragged into buses. The disturbing scenes unfolded just a stone’s throw away from the newly inaugurated parliament building, which had been hailed as a symbol of democracy. This stark contrast between the treatment of athletes and the grand ceremony drew outrage across the country.
The Delhi Police, in response to the incident, filed cases against the protesting wrestlers, accusing them of rioting, unlawful assembly, and obstructing public servants from performing their duties. The wrestlers, including prominent names such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshee Malikkh, and Bajrang Punia, have refuted these charges, asserting that they were engaged in a peaceful protest and did not resort to any violent or unlawful activities.
Wrestler Sakshee Malikkh, in an interview with news agency ANI, expressed her dismay at the allegations against them. She highlighted the stark difference between the number of constables and wrestlers involved, making it implausible for any rioting to occur. Malikkh stated that the wrestlers were simply requesting to be allowed to conduct a peaceful march, as they felt unheard, but they were met with forceful resistance from the police. Videos captured the wrestlers pleading to be released and denying any involvement in violence or damage to public property.
In response to the incident, the Delhi Police announced that if the wrestlers were to apply for permission to stage a sit-in again in the future, they would be allowed at alternative suitable protest sites other than Jantar Mantar. The police also cleared the site of the wrestlers’ sit-in and detained a significant number of individuals across the city.
The wrestlers’ protest highlighted the allegations of sexual harassment within the Wrestling Federation of India and called for the removal of its president, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, as well as a speedy trial on their police case. The athletes had planned a women’s assembly near the new parliament to amplify their demands.
Furthermore, the wrestlers expressed their dissatisfaction with the circulation of morphed photos on social media, depicting them smiling and enjoying their ordeal inside the police vehicle. Sakshee Malikkh criticized those responsible for spreading these misleading images, calling them heartless and accusing them of trying to defame the wrestlers.
The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of athletes and the freedom to peacefully protest in India. The sports community and social media users have called for a thorough investigation into the alleged police brutality and for the grievances raised by the wrestlers to be addressed promptly and fairly.
As this incident unfolds, it is crucial for all parties involved to ensure a transparent and just resolution, upholding the rights of the athletes and addressing the serious allegations against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India.
