Vinesh Phogat breaks down while alleging wrestlers getting harassed by Delhi Police

The elite wrestlers of the country who have been on a sit-in protest at the Jantar Mantar since April 23 complained about being abused by the police.

Commonwealth and Asian Games champion Vinesh Phogat broke down live on camera after she claimed that some wrestlers who have been protesting alongside her since April 23 were apparently roughed up and abused by Delhi Police personnel.

"Did we win medals to see this day," she said trying to hold back tears.

The protesting wrestlers complained that a ‘drunk’ Delhi Police official attacked two wrestlers while being inebriated. Meanwhile, his colleagues looked on as mere spectators and did nothing to intervene in the situation. "That cop was pushing and shoving everyone," said Ms Phogat.

"We are not criminals that they are behaving like this with us," she added. She also questioned the absence of women police officers at the spot. "I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where are the women police personnel" asked Ms Phogat.

The experience left a harrowing mark on Bajrang Punia as well who has won four medals at the World Wrestling Championships and has also won an Olympic bronze medal. He told NDTV, "I request the government to take all my medals back".

The wrestlers further added that they were only bringing folded beds to the sit-in protest site at Jantar Mantar as their mattresses got wet due to the recent rains. However, the police didn’t allow them to do so.

Three people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, were detained following the incident, police said, adding Mr Bharti came to the protest site with folding beds without permission.

"On being asked about the beds, his supporters became aggressive and tried to get the beds from a truck. Subsequently, a minor altercation took place following which Bharti, along with two others, was detained," the police said.

Following the incident, Delhi Police have decided to seal the Jantar Mantar area. As a result, no one will be allowed to enter the protest site, which has taken a political agenda recently following the recorded attendance of several opposition leaders and some even chanted anti-BJP and anti-Modi slogans.

The wrestlers are continuing their battle against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and its former chief Brij Bhushan Singh. Singh, a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has enjoyed the protection of the law so far but the wrestlers are demanding criminal action against him for the alleged sexual harassment and intimidation of seven female wrestlers, one of whom is a minor.

A First Information Report (FIR) has also been filed against him and an investigation probe is being launched into the matter. Although Singh denies the allegations, he has mentioned that he would resign if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or BJP asks him to.