In what could bring about a forceful end to wrestlers' protest at Jantar Mantar, the Delhi Police on Sunday (May 28) detained Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia and their supporters from different parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Haryana for 'violation of law and order' after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a women's 'Mahapanchayat'.
The wrestlers were manhandled by the Delhi police while Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building amidst a boycott by 21 opposition parties.
Modi performed religious rituals in the parliament complex while the protest site at Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been protesting for more than a month, was dismantled by the police.
Immediately after the wrestlers were pushed into buses and taken to an unknown location, the police officers began clearing the protest site by removing the cots, mattresses, cooler fans and the tarpaulin ceiling along with other belongings of the wrestlers.
The champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23, demanding his arrest.
It seems the police will not allow the wrestlers back to the protest site though no official statement has been made in this regard.
The police had warned the wrestlers not to move towards Parliament but they went ahead, leading to the scuffle.
Chaotic scenes were witnessed at Jantar Mantar as wrestlers and police officers shoved and pushed each other when Vinesh Phogat and her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat tried to breach the barricades.
Vinesh provided a strong resistance against her detention and Sangeeta clung to her cousin sister while lying on the road as the struggle continued for a few dramatic minutes.
The police officials dragged and lifted them into buses along several other wrestlers and their supporters.
"They have been detained for violating law and order. We will take legal action after inquiry in due course of time," said Dependra Pathak, Special CP, Law and Order.
“We need to assess the entire situation. As you have seen the barricades have been broken and they moved ahead despite request and warning. So that is why we have removed them from here.”
“The bottom line is peace and tranquility in all situation will be maintained. We will ensure professional steps to see to it that nothing goes wrong,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Pathak urged the wrestlers to not indulge in anti-national activities on the “historic day” of inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Today is the inauguration of our new Parliament. It is an important day for our country and a proud moment. So any type of agitation or march on this day is anti-national. No way Delhi Police can afford any lapse. We respect and love our athletes but can’t allow any untoward incident,” he said.
The protesting wrestlers and their supporters have been taken to different locations in the national capital.
While Bajrang has been detained at a police station near Mayur Vihar, Sakshi is in Burari. Vinesh and Sangeeta were taken to Kalkaji.
The Delhi Police had beefed up security at Jantar Mantar following protesting wrestlers' call for a 'Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat' before the new Parliament Building on Sunday.
The new building was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi early this morning.
A teary-eyed Vinesh, who showed maximum resistance, later said from a bus that they are being punished for demanding justice.
“The accused is roaming free, he is being given shelter by the government and we athletes who won medals for the country are now being put in jail for demanding justice for country’s daughters,” she said.
“Welcome to the new country,” she quipped from the bus window.
Bajrang feels grave injustice was being meted out to them for demanding justice.
“The accused has such audacity that he is talking about changing the POCSO Act and you are doing nothing against him and here are athletes who are demanding justice with folded hands and you are ill-treating them,” he said.
“Over 2000 of our supporters were detained. Everywhere dictatorship is going on.” Later, he tweeted, “Does any government treat the champions of the country like this? What crime have we committed?” Sakshi also took to twitter to vent out her anger against the government and the Delhi Police.
“This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us! Sexual abuser goon Brij Bhushan is sitting in the Parliament today and we are being dragged on the road. Sad day for Indian sports,” the Olympic medallist wrote.
“Was it a crime to bring medals for the country? if yes, then hang us,” she added.
Ironically, both Bajrang and Vinesh were detained just metres away from Brij Bhushan’s official residence at 21, Ashoka Road.
Thousands of police personnel were deployed and multiple layers of barricades were in place in the Lutyens' Delhi. The wrestlers, staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar which is about two kilometres from the Parliament building, had said they will go ahead with their 'Mahapanchayat' at any cost.
The agitating wrestlers, including the likes of Olympic medallists Bajranj, Sakshi and Asian Games gold winner Vinesh have been demanding the arrest of the outgoing WFI President, who they have accused of sexually harassing several women grapplers.
The wrestlers had said that use of force by police will not deter them from going ahead with their peaceful march and the Mahapanchayat.
According to the live location shared by one of the wrestlers' supporters from the moving bus, they were being moved towards Tikri border.
In another video shared by the wrestlers, Sakshi's husband Satyawart Kadian and Jiternder Kinha were seen shouting slogan 'Inqalab Jindabad' along with several others as the police vehicle whisked them away.
