On Sunday, the Delhi Police filed an FIR under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the wrestlers' protest organizers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, and Bajrang Punia.
"A charge has been filed against wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and other protest organizers. A few wrestlers had arrived at Jantar Mantar late at night to protest; however, they had been denied entry and sent away, according to Delhi Police.
After detaining the protesting wrestlers as they marched towards the new Parliament building, the Delhi Police took this move a short while later.
Vinesh Phogat responded to the FIR by saying a new chapter in history was being written.
"Delhi Police took seven days to register an FIR for sexual harassment against Brij Bhushan, but not even seven hours to file an FIR for peacefully protesting against them. Has a dictatorship taken over the nation? The way the government treats its players is being observed by everyone on Earth. Vinesh Phogat posted on her social media account, "A new chapter in history is being written.
देखिए कैसे #Wrestlers विनेश, संगीता और सत्यव्रत और अन्य साथियों को बसों और गाड़ियों में ठूँसा गया। pic.twitter.com/9CTlz5igD5
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023
Bajrang Punia, a wrestler, was also stopped by security agents as he approached the Parliament. The demonstrators said that it was their right to come to the streets and described the march as "peaceful." Punia questioned his police incarceration on Twitter as well.
I've been detained by the police. nothing to reveal. Have I broken any laws? Brij Bhushan ought to have been locked up. Why are we still in custody? enquired Punia.
Farmers, wrestlers, and khap panchayats from different states who were demonstrating at Jantar Mantar had called for a "mahila samman mahapanchayat" close to the Parliament complex.
The police cleared the protest location and launched a crackdown on the demonstrators while also removing the tents from Jantar Mantar.
A case has been filed under Sections 147 (guilty of rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing a public servant from performing duty), 188 (disobeying order duly promulgated by a public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to prevent a public servant from performing duty), and 353 (using criminal force to prevent a public servant from performing duty) of the Indian Penal code. Additionally, the demonstrators are accused of violating Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), has been wanted by the wrestlers.
