Delhi Police Files FIR Against Protesting Wrestlers, Detains Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, & Bajrang Punia

A group of prominent Indian wrestlers, including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang Punia, among 700 people approximately, have been booked for rioting and other charges following a scuffle with security personnel during a march to the newly inaugurated Parliament building.

The forceful action against the country's top athletes took place as the wrestlers and their supporters breached the security cordon in an attempt to hold a planned women's 'Mahapanchayat' near the Parliament building. The incident has sparked a significant outcry, raising concerns about the treatment of athletes and the right to protest peacefully. The situation remains tense as authorities grapple with the fallout from the clashes and the detainment of the wrestlers.

Among the detainees were 109 individuals, including the three prominent wrestlers, who were taken into custody at the Jantar Mantar protest site. While women detainees were released later in the evening, the wrestlers and their supporters were not allowed to return to the protest site.

Reports indicate that the wrestlers have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.

The Delhi Police also cleared the protest site at Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers had been staging a sit-in protest for over a month, alleging sexual harassment by BJP Member of Parliament and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

The wrestlers were denied permission to proceed towards the new Parliament building shortly after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When they were stopped by police, a heated scuffle ensued, leading to their detainment. The incident drew criticism from opposition political leaders and a few sportspersons, including Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, who expressed concern over the treatment of the athletes. Disturbing visuals of wrestlers being dragged by security forces circulated widely.

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Khap panchayats from various states, farmers, and supporting wrestlers who were protesting at Jantar Mantar had announced their intention to hold the 'mahila samman mahapanchayat' in support of their cause.

As part of the crackdown on the protesters, the police also dismantled the tents and cleared the protest site at Jantar Mantar. The actions taken by law enforcement are expected to face further scrutiny in the coming days, with calls for a thorough investigation and resolution of the underlying issues raised by the wrestlers and their supporters.

source-India Today

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