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Wrestlers' Protest: SC verdict not a setback, protest will continue, wrestlers say

THE TIMES OF INDIA | May 05, 2023, 13:06:29 IST

Wrestlers' Protest: SC verdict not a setback, protest will continue, wrestlers say

Hurt by the boorish behaviour of the Delhi Police, protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Thursday offered to return their medals and awards to the government, saying these honours are of no use if they are being subjected to such humiliation. The wrestlers have been sitting on a protest in the national capital since April 23, demanding the arrest of WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh for alleged sexual harassment of seven wrestlers including a minor.

22:59 (IST) May 04

Wrestlers ready to explore legal options to ensure proper probe; want victims' statements to be recorded before magistrate

They had hoped for a favourable ruling from the Supreme Court, but the protesting wrestlers, already incensed over alleged police high-handedness on Wednesday night, suffered another roadblock in their fight for justice against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as the apex court decided to close proceedings on the plea of sexual harassment allegations against the sidelined WFI chief, a BJP-strongman and six-time Lok Sabha MP.

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22:25 (IST) May 04

IOA's ad-hoc committee takes charge of Wrestling Federation of India

The ad-hoc committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to oversee the affairs of the crisis-ridden Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on Thursday took charge of the federation. The Sports Ministry had instructed the IOA to form the ad-hoc committee and conduct elections within 45 days of its formation. The committee was formed last month.

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18:10 (IST) May 04

Delhi Police block entry of wrestlers at protest site

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18:04 (IST) May 04

Geeta Phogat detained by Delhi Police near Jahangirpuri

— geeta_phogat (@geeta_phogat)

17:23 (IST) May 04

Supreme Court verdict is not a setback, protest will continue: Wrestlers

After the Supreme Court on Thursday closed the proceedings on a plea by three women wrestlers, who have levelled sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan, the wrestlers said that they will continue the protest. The wrestlers also claimed that the top court's decision is not a setback and they will decide the future course of action after consulting their seniors.

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16:42 (IST) May 04

We respect the Supreme Court order, protest will continue. We have all options open, and will decide the future course of action after consulting seniors. SC order not a setback, top court did what it could in the matter.

Protesting wrestlers to PTI

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16:01 (IST) May 04

Folding beds were brought 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. We have told the wrestlers to give complaint on their grievances and will take appropriate action...medical check-up of the Policeman on whom they've raised allegations, being conducted.

DCP Pranav Tayal

16:00 (IST) May 04

No witness has been found by the police in any case registered against Brij Bhushan Singh. Till now the police have recorded the statement of 4 minor players under section 161. CDR, CCTV footage, technical evidence is being investigated and arrest cannot be made without any evidence.

Delhi Police source to ANI

16:00 (IST) May 04

The police have only performed their duty, there was no permission to bring any kind of beds to the protest site, how can you bring beds there? No one's entry is banned during the day. An attempt was made to vitiate the atmosphere forcibly in the night, which was opposed by the police.

Delhi Police source to ANI

15:30 (IST) May 04

No police personnel found drunk; sufficient women personnel were on spot on Wednesday night, says Delhi Police

15:30 (IST) May 04

No force used against protesting wrestlers; 5 police personnel injured, says Delhi Police

15:21 (IST) May 04

The protestors had to make their speeches without microphone as there was no generator set

15:20 (IST) May 04

The protesting wrestlers claimed that Delhi Police have taken away their generator set and the mattresses they had kept for drying, even as heavy police deployment continued near the protest site

14:58 (IST) May 04

Expressing shock over the "gross injustice being meted out to our champion wrestlers, who have brought glory to our nation," Stalin said in a tweet, "This is just not done."

14:53 (IST) May 04

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged manhandling of protesting wrestlers in Delhi, saying contrary to the PM's "false promises" on empowering women, the BJP was "shielding" accused persons

14:23 (IST) May 04

From the courts

— ANI (@ANI)

13:20 (IST) May 04

SC said security has been provided to wrestlers and rejected plea for probe monitoring by ex-Judge

13:20 (IST) May 04

SC closes proceedings on petition filed by 3 of 7 women wrestlers, on whose sexual harassment complaint FIRs have been registered against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

13:18 (IST) May 04

Take it (medals) all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect but we are being crushing under their feet. Does all men have the right to abuse women? We will return all our medals, even give our life but at least get us justice.

Vinesh Phogat

12:54 (IST) May 04

There was heavy security at the Jantar Mantar site following last night's ruckus between the wrestlers and few Delhi police personnel, leading to injuries to two protesters

12:27 (IST) May 04

Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel at Jantar Mantar: What we know so far

03:46

12:11 (IST) May 04

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 police is pushing us, abusing us, 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.

Bajrang Punia

12:07 (IST) May 04

11:51 (IST) May 04

Support from Rahul Gandhi

— RahulGandhi (@RahulGandhi)

11:44 (IST) May 04

Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardhwaj hits out at Delhi Police for 'manhandling' protesting wrestlers

01:23

11:26 (IST) May 04

PT Usha U-turn: Meets wrestlers, assures them of her support; UWW approves IOA's ad-hoc committee

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11:12 (IST) May 04

Midnight scuffle at Jantar Mantar: DCW chief Swati Maliwal detained as she tried to enter protest venue

01:48

11:02 (IST) May 04

After a late-night scuffle between wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called a meeting of its MLAs, councillors and party officials in connection with the matter on Thursday

10:34 (IST) May 04

Heavy police deployment

— PTI_News (@PTI_News)

10:28 (IST) May 04

Four people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, were detained following the incident, police said

09:45 (IST) May 04

AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was also among those who had reached the site to show his support to the top wrestlers of the country, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat among others, who are protesting here since April 23 against the chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges

09:26 (IST) May 04

Around 15 others were also detained in a bus

09:26 (IST) May 04

The police detained Rajya Sabha MP Dipendra Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal who had reached the spot to support the wrestlers

08:53 (IST) May 04

According to sources, heavy police force has been deployed at the site and the whole area has been barricaded

08:53 (IST) May 04

The Delhi Police has put in place adequate security measures around Jantar Mantar after an alleged scuffle between the protesting wrestlers and some police personnel at the protesting site

08:00 (IST) May 04

Scuffle between Wrestlers and Police at night in Delhi during Wrestlers' Protest at Jantar Mantar

05:27

07:45 (IST) May 04

I request everyone to reach Delhi by morning. This is the time. If not now, then when. This is question of dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan (WFI President) are roaming free despite being a criminal and all this is happening to us

Bajrang Punia

07:45 (IST) May 04

Bajrang Punia exhorted the farmers and the general public to reach Jantar Mantar in their support.

07:45 (IST) May 04

Where were female police officers? How can the male officers push us like that. We are not criminals. We do not deserve such treatment. The police officer who was drunk hit my brother

Vinesh Phogat

07:44 (IST) May 04

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 police men are holding guns, they can kill us

Vinesh Phogat

07:44 (IST) May 04

If you want to kill us, then kill us

a crying Vinesh said

07:44 (IST) May 04

Around 11 pm, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers when they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay and the on-duty police personnel allegedly began enquiring about that.

07:44 (IST) May 04

The wrestlers are sitting on protest from April 23, demanding arrest of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging that he has sexually harassed seven female grapplers, including one minor.

07:44 (IST) May 04

Shocked and appalled by the boorish behaviour by the Delhi Police towards protesting wrestlers late Thursday evening, an emotionally distraught Vinesh Phogat said they were not criminals and did not deserve such disrespect.

07:43 (IST) May 04

Bajrang Punia speaks with media after the midnight scuffle

07:38 (IST) May 04

Police said AAP MLA Somnath Bharti had come with some folding beds at the protest site and was told by an ACP that it would not be allowed. The wrestlers then started taking the beds inside the protest site which led to a scuffle.

07:37 (IST) May 04

As the altercation reached a crescendo, senior police officials came to control the situation. At least 200-300 police personnel cordoned off the Jantar Mantar protest area. Only 20 wrestlers remained at the site.

07:37 (IST) May 04

Vinesh alleged that Dharmender Kumar Singh, the Assistant Commissioner of Police present at the site, also abused her.

07:37 (IST) May 04

The police then tried to detain Bajrang, Satyawrat, Jitender Kinha and the other male wrestlers, but Vinesh jumped the barricade and threw her body in the line of fire. She was again hit by a female constable in the skirmish.

07:37 (IST) May 04

Another wrestler, Dushyant Phogat, the brother of Geeta and Babita Phogat, suffered a cut on his forehead. He was taken to the RML Hospital for treatment.

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Wrestlers' Protest: SC verdict not a setback, protest will continue, wrestlers say

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Wrestlers' Protest: SC verdict not a setback, protest will continue, wrestlers say

Protesting wrestlers to PTI

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Delhi Police source to ANI

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Vinesh Phogat

Bajrang Punia

Bajrang Punia

Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat

a crying Vinesh said

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