Wrestlers yet to meet after release from police detention, will soon contemplate next move

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sangeeta Phogat with others during their protest march from Jantar Mantar to the new Parliament building in New Delhi on May 28, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Released late last night from police detention, the wrestlers are still contemplating their next move even as they continued to get support from sporting fraternity after police action against top grapplers was unequivocally condemned by political and sports personalities.

Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia, Sangeeta Phogat, Sakshi Malik and several others were detained by Delhi police on Sunday (May 28) when they attempted to move towards the new Parliament building for women’s ‘Mahapanchayat’.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat with others being detained by the security personnel on May 28, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
Sushil Kumar Verma

Disturbing videos of police action against elite wrestlers emerged from Jantar Mantar, which will now remain out of bound for them. The wrestlers are demanding arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

“We will let you know soon what our next move will be. We are still gathering ourselves. I was released at 11pm and Bajrang was released around mid-night. We are yet to meet at a common place. We will soon discuss it,” said one of the protesting wrestlers.

The police, which has filed FIRs against the trio of Bajrang, Vinesh, Sakshi and several others for violation of law and order, has made it clear that they will not allow the wrestlers to return to Jantar Mantar.

Meanwhile, India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra denounced the police action against the top wrestlers, saying the treatment meted out to grapplers left him “sleepless” and was “haunted” by the horrifying images.

Unprecedented scenes of police dragging Olympic and world championships medal-winning players, including Sakshi, Vinesh, Punia and Sangeeta Phogat, were witnessed when the wrestlers and their supporters breached the security cordon ahead of their march towards the new Parliament building.

Police personnel detain wrestler Sangeeta Phogat during the protest march from Jantar Mantar to New Parliament building against the alleged sexual harassment of women wrestlers by WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI Photo/Amit Sharma)
| Photo Credit:
ANI

“Last night was sleepless, haunted by the horrifying images of my fellow Indian wrestlers protesting,” tweeted Bindra, even as India’s most successful footballer Sunil Chhetri and former India all-rounder too criticised the action against the wrestlers. “It’s high time we establish independent safeguarding measures across sporting organisations. We must ensure that if such situations arise, they are dealt with utmost sensitivity and respect. Every athlete deserves a safe and empowering environment,” added Bindra, the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist in air rifle.

India football captain Sunil Chhetri, tweeted, “Why does it have to come down to our wrestlers being dragged around without any consideration? This isn’t the way to treat anyone. I really hope this whole situation is assessed the way it should be.”

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said a solution to the issue should be found immediately.

“I’m so sad to see the visuals of our Athletes…. Please solve this ASAP,” Pathan tweeted.

Wrestlers were warned creating ruckus during Parliament building opening would not be tolerated: police FIR

Protesting wrestlers ignored police warning that creating a ruckus during the opening of the new Parliament building would “harm national prestige” and will not be tolerated but they tried to march towards it, according to an FIR registered against top grapplers.

The FIR states at least 15 security personnel, a majority of them policewomen, were injured during the scuffle on Sunday between them and the wrestlers who also ignored police request to continue their protest at Jantar Mantar.

Sakshi Malik, an Olympic medallist, said in tweet after being detained on Sunday that “in this country, there will be no dictatorship but there will be satyagraha held by women wrestlers”.