Wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar on Thursday said that they are ready to return all their medals as they alleged harassment by police following scuffle between the two factions last night. The scuffle lead to head injuries to a couple of protestors who have been staging protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brijbhushan Sharan Singh alleging sexual harassment.
Speaking to reporters this morning, star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat said they will return all their medals.
“We will return all our medals. We are being humiliated and abused by the police,” she said.
Bajrang Punia also echoed the same concerns.
Following the incident last night, the Delhi Police has ramped up security deployment at Jantar Mantar with multiple barricades around the protest site with no one being allowed in.
Deputy Commissioners of all districts in Delhi have been asked to be on alert in their districts as a large number of people can reach Jantar Mantar, the police stated.
In a video being circulated on social media, some of the protesters were heard accusing police personnel of attacking two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol.
The scuffle broke out around 11 pm last night when the wrestlers were bringing folding beds for sleeping and the on-duty police personnel started asking questions about it. The wrestlers accused the police personnel of behaving badly with them and alleged that personnel even abused the women wrestlers.
"If you want to kill us, kill us," Vinesh Phogat said with tears in her eyes during a late-night media interaction. "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," she said, as quoted by PTI.