Vinesh Phogat: Protesting India wrestlers say police assaulted them

Protesting Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat with Sakshi Malik addressing the media at Jantar Mantar, on May 2, 2023 in New Delhishabby picture

Best athletes from India have claimed that the officers in Delhi, where they have been protesting since April 23, mistreated and assaulted them.

Officers claim there was an encounter there, but they dispute any injuries.

The wrestlers are calling for the incarceration of Brij Bhushan Singh, the head of their league, on charges of sexual abuse of athletes. He refutes the charge.

On Thursday, the best court in India will hear their request for legal action against him.

On Wednesday night, athletes claimed to have been attacked by police while attempting to transport beds to the objection location.

Due to rain, the area is filled with water, and since there was nowhere to rest, boxer Vinesh Phogat suggested bringing the beds.

Ms. Phogat claimed that a crazy police officer shoved her after assaulting her brother. She added that there were no female officers officials present.

In a tweet, boxer Geeta Phogat reported that another sportsman had been hurt in addition to her brother Dushyant having been struck in the head.

Bronze medalist Sakshi Malik from Rio de Janeiro was seen sobbing in a game by the Press Trust of India news organization as Vinesh Phogat comforted her during the commotion.

Ms. Phogat later told the media,” The way they have made us experience, I would not want any athlete to earn a prize for the nation.”

Bajrang Punia, the Olympic champion, has urged people to participate in their opposition in order to preserve” the integrity of our girls.”

Police claim that no national was intoxicated on the property. A older police official told the Indian Express that some men attempted to bring beds to the objection website. They became angry when police officers questioned them about it, and the protesters joined them.

Aam Aadmi Party ( AAP ) legislator Somnath Bharti claimed he was detained by the Delhi police for requesting foldable cots for the wrestlers.

The wrestlers’ rallies first started in January. Two-time World Championship medalist Vinesh Phogat claimed that Mr. Singh, the head of the Wrestling Federation of India( WFI ), had told her that at least 10 female wrestlers had engaged in sexual abuse.

Mr. Singh is a powerful politician and lawmaker who belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party( BJP ).

He and the WFI have refuted the claims.

After receiving assurances of motion from the federal government and Mr. Singh’s request to resign for a few weeks, the athletes called off their protests. A commission was already established by the Indian Olympic Association to look into the allegations against Mr. Singh.

On April 23, however, the athletes picked up where they left off, declaring they wouldn’t stop until Mr. Singh was taken into custody.

The athletics department acknowledged fundamental flaws in the WFI, claiming that it lacked the Internal Complaints Committee required by law to address claims of sexual abuse within the organization.

It stated that there was a” need for more transparency” and” effective communication” between sportspeople and the WFI.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses( POCSO ) Act, which was based on a minor’s complaint, led the Delhi Police to file two complaints against Mr. Singh on April 28.

He hasn’t yet been interrogated or taken into custody, though.

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