Wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat, and Sakshi Malik addressing a press convention throughout their protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 29.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
On a cloudy Saturday afternoon, between units of barricades in central Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, sat the wrestlers, khap leaders, politicians, activists, and the widespread folks, demanding justice for wrestlers protesting in opposition to Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Wrestler Bajrang Punia on Friday evening took to Instagram to accuse the Delhi Police of limiting provide of electrical energy and rations.
“At the protest site, they (police) have cut off electricity and have barricaded the site, making it difficult for us to access basic necessities like food and water, they even asked us to end our protest as FIRs have been registered against WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh,” Mr. Punia mentioned, in his Instagram video.
“They are not allowing food, water, or mats inside, trying to break us. And this is not about competition or participating, it is about sexual harassment, why doesn’t he answer that? He has also said he knows what statement and complaint the minor has made, how is that possible? And we are still asked to trust the police and committees,” Mr. Punia mentioned.
There was no fast response from the Delhi Police and Sports Ministry on the considerations raised by Mr. Punia.
The Delhi Police are giving safety to seven girls wrestlers, together with a minor, who’ve made complaints.
According to the wrestlers’ lawyer Narender Hooda, one FIR has been registered beneath IPC Sections 354 (assault or prison pressure to lady with intent to outrage her modesty), 354(A) (sexual harassment), and 354(D) (stalking a girl) and one other beneath the POCSO Act. Mr. Hooda advised The Hindu, “A copy of the first FIR has been given to the wrestlers, and the second FIR copy has not been provided to us [as it will be given only to the victim’s family].”
Wrestler Somveer Kadian, 25, who’s at the protest website, mentioned it’s tougher for the ladies as a result of they’ve been denied basic requirements. Mr. Kadian is wrestler Sakshi Malik’s brother.
He advised The Hindu that there have been two public bogs within the space, however at evening, the police barricaded one of many bogs close to Patel Chowk metro station, and the opposite was locked from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
On Saturday, two water tankers had been allowed contained in the premises by the police; nevertheless, mattresses weren’t allowed to be introduced in, the wrestlers mentioned.
Mr. Kadian mentioned that on Saturday, their lunch, which comes from close by areas with the assistance of different wrestlers, was additionally restricted. “We have lunch around noon; after fighting for it, we were allowed to get the lunch boxes around 2.30 p.m. You can stop us from accessing basic necessities, but we will survive because we’re the children of farmers,” he mentioned.
To proceed their protest, the wrestlers are utilizing their very own cash to organize for tents, bedsheets, mattresses, followers, audio system, microphones, a mini energy gen-set and water and meals, mentioned wrestler Vishal Mor, who’s wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s brother-in-law and a resident of Hissar in Haryana. He mentioned that no monetary assist was taken from any politician or political occasion.
