Delhi: Police clear wrestlers' protest site at Jantar Mantar

In what could bring about a forceful end to the wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar the Delhi police on Sunday detained Vinesh Phogat Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia for violation of law and order after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a planned womens MahapanchayatImmediately after the wrestlers were pushed into buses and taken to different locations the police officers began clearing the protest site by removing the cots mattresses coolers fans and the tarpaulin ceiling along with other belongings of the wrestlersIt seems the police will not allow the wrestlers back to the protest site though no official statement has been made in this regardThe police had warned the wrestlers not to move towards Parliament but they went ahead leading to the scuffleThe champion wrestlers had resumed their agitation against former Wresting Federation of India WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on April 23 demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of several women grapplers including a minorChaotic scenes were witnessed at Jantar Mantar as wrestlers and police officers shoved and pushed each other when Vinesh Phogat her cousin sister Sangeeta Phogat and Sakshi tried to breach the barricadesVinesh provided a strong resistance against her detention and Sangeeta clung on to her cousin sister while lying on the road as the struggle continued for a few dramatic minutesThe police officials dragged and lifted them into buses along with several other wresters and their supportersThey have been detained for violating law and order We will take legal action after inquiry in due course of time said Dependra Pathak Special CP Law and OrderWe need to assess the entire situation As you have seen the barricades have been broken and they moved ahead despite request and warning So that is why we have removed them from hereAlso readCongress slams Centre after Delhi Police arrest protesting wrestlersThe bottom line is peace and tranquility will be maintained We will ensure professional steps to see to it that nothing goes wrong he addedEarlier in the day Pathak urged the wrestlers to not indulge in antinational activities on the historic day of inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra ModiToday is the inauguration of our new Parliament It is an important day for our country and proud moment So any type of agitation or march on this day is antinational No way Delhi Policy can afford any lapse We respect and love our athletes but cant allow any untoward incident he saidThe protesting wrestlers and their supporters have been taken to different locations in the national capitalWhile Bajrang has been detained at a police station near Mayur Vihar Sakshi is in Burari Vinesh and Sangeeta were taken to KalkajiThe Delhi Police had beefed up security at Jantar Mantar following protesting wrestlers call for a Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat before the new Parliament Building on SundayA tearyeyed Vinesh who showed maximum resistance later said from a bus that they are being punished for demanding justiceThe accused is roaming free He is being given shelter by the government and athletes who won medals for the country are now being put in jail for demanding justice for countrys daughters Vinesh saidWelcome to the new country she quipped from the bus windowBajrang feels grave injustice was being meted out to them for demanding justiceThe accused has such audacity that he is talking about changing the POCSO Act and you are doing nothing against him and here are athletes who are demanding justice with folded hands and you are illtreating them he saidOver 2000 of our supporters were detained Everywhere dictatorship is going onLater he tweeted Does any government treat the champions of the country like this What crime have we committedSakshi also took to twitter to vent out her anger against the government and the Delhi PoliceThis is how our champions are being treated The world is watching usSexual abuser goon Brij Bhushan is sitting in the Parliament today and we are being dragged on the road Sad day for Indian sports the Olympic medallist wroteWas it a crime to bring medals for the country if yes then hang us she addedIronically both Bajrang and Vinesh were detained just metres away from Brij Bhushans official residence at 21 Ashoka RoadThousands of police personnel were deployed and multiple layers of barricades were in place in the Lutyens Delhi The wrestlers staging a sitin protest at Jantar Mantar which is about two kilometres from the Parliament building had said they will go ahead with their Mahapanchayat at any costThe agitating wrestlers including the likes of Olympic medallists Bajranj Sakshi and Asian Games gold winner Vinesh have been demanding the arrest of the outgoing WFI President who they have accused of sexually harassing several women grapplersThe wrestlers had said that use of force by police will not deter them from going ahead with their peaceful march and the MahapanchayatIn a video shared by the wrestlers Sakshis husband Satyawart Kadian and Jiternder Kinha were seen shouting slogan Inqalab Jindabad from inside the bus as the police vehicle whisked them awayThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever