Were we committing a crime by bringing beds: Vinesh Phogat

NEW-DELHI: A clash broke out between the wrestlers and the police who were protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar late on Wednesday night. Some wrestlers have suffered critical injuries due to the scuffle. Vinesh and Sakshi, the medal winning wrestlers, started crying after the clash. Next morning i.e. Thursday, Bajrang Punia said, "We will return our medals to the Government of India. Boxer Vijender Singh said that now this fight will last for a long time."

Notably, The wrestlers are on strike for 11 consecutive days over the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. A hearing is also scheduled to be held in the Supreme Court on this matter today.

The wrestlers said, "The road was wet due to rain. That was why, we reached the protest site with the beds, but the policemen stopped us. Drunken policemen beat and abused us."

Vinesh Phogat alleged that the players were attacked and abused. She said, "Were we committing a crime by bringing beds, was there a bomb? Their (Delhi Police) behaviour was very aggressive."

Delhi Police DCP Pranav Tayal said in a statement, "During the wrestlers' dharna at Jantar Mantar, AAP leader Somnath Bharti reached the protest site with a bed without permission. When we intervened, the supporters of the wrestlers became aggressive and tried to remove the bed from the truck. After this, a minor fight broke out between the police and the wrestlers." Currently, a large number of police have been deployed at Jantar Mantar.

In this clash, wrestler Vinesh Phogat's brother Dushyant suffered serious injuries in the head. Another wrestler Rahul is also injured. While addressing a press conference, Olympian Bajrang Punia said, "The matter is related to women, but the nation is being misled by associating it with political parties. Police are working in favour of Brij Bhushan. We are being abused after the FIR was lodged."