After Delhi Police Manhandle Protesting Wrestlers, Olympians Vinesh, Bajrang Say 'Will Return All Medals'

The ongoing sit-in protest by some of India's most decorated sportspersons took a shameful turn on Wednesday night after the Delhi Police allegedly assaulted the protesters.

A scuffle broke out between the Delhi Police and the protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar around 11 pm on Wednesday as they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay.

We have listened to your 830 Crore worth 100 episodes of ¡®Mann ki Baat¡¯

Kindly listen to the Mann ki Baat of our champion athletes ?#WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/sgRdopQF6I

¡ª YSR (@ysathishreddy) May 4, 2023

Cops were drunk: wrestlers

In a video circulated on social media platforms, some protesters can be heard accusing police personnel of attacking two wrestlers under the influence of alcohol.

The accused policeman is seen sitting in the video, while the protesters allege that his colleagues were mute spectators.

Jantar Mantar Breaking:

Protesting Wrestlers claiming they have been manhandled their. Their team members has sustained physical injury ¡ª claim wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar.#WrestlersProtest #JantarMantar #DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/CmaB8pJmNn

¡ª Mahua Moitra Fans (@MahuaMoitraFans) May 3, 2023

Scuffle over folding beds

"The mattresses got wet due to rain, so we were bringing folding beds for sleeping, but the police did not allow that. Drunk policeman Dharmendra abused Vinesh Phogat and got involved in a scuffle with us," Former wrestler Rajveer who was at the protest site, told PTI.

"They started hitting us. Bajrang Punia's brother-in-law Dushyant and Rahul suffered head injuries. The police did not even let doctors reach the site. Even the women constables were misbehaving with us," he said.

"I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where are the women police personnel?" asked Phogat.

BCCL

Punia's wife, Sangeeta, also claimed that police officers pushed her around.

Don't want this humiliation

Reacting to the police crackdown, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Thursday said they are ready to return their medals and awards to the government as these honours are of no use if they are being subjected to such humiliation.

"If this is how the wrestlers will be treated, what will we do with the medals? Rather we will live a normal life and return all the medals and awards to the Indian Government," Bajrang, an Olympic bronze medallist, said.

BCCL

"When police is pushing us, abusing us, misbehaving, then they don't see that we are Padma Shri awardee, and not only me, there is Sakshi (Malik) also," he said.

"Take it (medals) all away. We have been humiliated so much. We are fighting for our respect, but we are being crushing under their feet. Do all men have the right to abuse women?," said Vinesh, who is Khel Ratna awardee.

"We will return all our medals, even give our life but at least get us justice."

Delhi Police to prevent crowds reaching Jantar Mantar

Meanwhile, Jantar Mantar on Thursday turned into a fortress as the Delhi Police deployed more personnel in anticipation of more people joining the protesting wrestlers.

BCCL

Directions have also been given to all DCPs to check the entry of people who could be heading to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, allegedly for his sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers.

The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23, demanding action against the BJP MP.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.