Amid the wrestlers protest, a midnight commotion broke out at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. Protesting wrestlers claim that their team members have sustained physical injuries and were ill-treated by a drunk policeman. They even claimed that they were attacked by cops when they wished to bring in extra mattresses to their protest zone.
The clash between the wrestlers and cops was a major upheaval. The wrestlers wanted to bring folding beds to their protest area as the streets were wet by the rain. Delhi police restricted them from doing the activity inside the protest zone, when a drunk cop as stated by the wrestlers mistreated wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat and Sakshi Malik.
As per reports, amid the fight, a few wrestlers were injured and a few were hit on their heads. A person who fell unconscious on the ground had to be taken to the hospital instantly. Geeta and Babita Phogat’s younger brother suffered a cut on his forehead.
VIDEO | Ruckus between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/AIS5zgH4My
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2023
Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat broke down and said, “If you want to kill us, then 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.” (Reports from PTI)
Meanwhile, a senior police officer said, “There were a few men who tried bringing cots to the protest site. When policemen asked them about it, they got aggressive and the protesters joined them. They wrongfully restrained a policeman and accused him of being drunk. This is not true. Other officers are at the site and the situation is now under control. No protester are beaten up.”
DCP Pranav Tayal told ANI that there is no permission to do something like that. He said, “Somnath Bharti brought folding beds to the protest site in Jantar Mantar. Since there was no permission, we didn’t allow it, so some of the supporters of the protesting wrestlers tried to take out the beds from the truck and this led to an altercation.”
VIDEO | "The way they have made us suffer, I would not want any athlete to win a medal for the country," says wrestler Vinesh Phogat. pic.twitter.com/EpSk6dc3ZL
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 3, 2023
On Thursday wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia were ready to return their medals to the government as it is of no use if the situation of wrestlers will continue to be the same.
“If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? Rather we will live a normal life and return all the medals and awards to the Indian Government. When the police are pushing us, abusing us, and misbehaving then they don’t see that we are Padma Shri awardee, and not only me, there is Sakshi (Malik) also. They are misbehaving with us. Women and daughters are sitting on the streets, begging for kindness but no one is bothered about getting justice,” said Bajrang Punia.
It was earlier said that the area has been barricaded, not allowing media to reach the venue. “Delhi Police respects the right to lawful demonstration. No one has been stopped from meeting any protestors who are protesting at Jantar Mantar in a lawful manner,” a statement from the Delhi police reads.
