Wrestlers protests: Delhi Police detains protestors marching towards new Parliament building

Wrestlers protests: Delhi Police detained 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 women's 'Mahapanchayat', reported news agnecy PTI. 

Immediately after the wrestlers were pushed into buses and taken to an unknown location, the police officers began clearing the protest site by removing the cots, mattresses, cooler fans and the tarpaulin ceiling along with other belongings of the wrestlers.

Speaking about the incident, Special CP, Law & Order Dependra Pathak said, "Any attempt to create disturbance in the inauguration of the new Parliament building will be dealt with very politely and firmly. I request our respected athletes not to do any such thing today." 

 

Earlier, heavy security has been deployed in and around the national capital ahead of the peaceful march planned by the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar along with the inauguration of the new Parliament building on Sunday, officials said. The protesting wrestlers informed that they will go ahead with their 'Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat' near the new building at any cost.

Meanwhile, the Police have stated that no protester will be allowed to move towards the new Parliament building as permission has not been granted to hold the 'Mahila Mahapanchayat'. A senior police officer said that security has been stepped up by enhancing police deployment, placing multiple barricades and sufficient police pickets and in addition, intensive patrolling is also being carried out across the national capital and its bordering areas to ensure that law and order is maintained.

Farmers stopped at Ambala border  

Members of the Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee were stopped by the Delhi Police at the Ambala border. They had travelled from Amritsar yesterday to participate in the Mahila Samman Mahapanchayat that is to be held today. 

Earlier, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait informed that thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh will gather at Delhi's Ghazipur border to enter the national capital in a bid to extend their support to the protesting wrestlers. Farmers will also enter the national capital from other border points. 

Police have requested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to grant necessary permission to create temporary jail in the MC Primary Girls School, Kanjawala Chowk, Old Bawana on Sunday, if required, so that law and order arrangement could be maintained.

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"Strict vigil is being kept along Delhi's borders. We have increased our pickets, multiple barricades have been placed and no one will be given entry inside the national capital without being thoroughly checked," a senior police officer said. Every vehicle will be checked and no suspicious entry which has the potential to disrupt the law and order situation inside Delhi will be allowed, another senior police officer said.

Delhi Police issues traffic advisory

Police have already issued a traffic advisory that New Delhi district will be treated as a controlled area and entry of vehicles will be restricted. A police official said that adequate security personnel have been deployed near the Parliament building and there is a robust security arrangement made at the Jantar Mantar where wrestlers and farmers have been on sit-in. 

"There are heavy barricades placed and to keep strict vigil on the activities and to ensure no one moves outside the venue, for each protester, we have deployed at least five police personnel. That's how elaborate the security arrangement is at Jantar Mantar," a police official said. Police pickets have also been set up in central Delhi and tight security arrangements have been made to maintain law and order, the official said.

Know more about wrestlers protest

On May 19, the wrestlers had marched from Jantar Mantar to Bangla Sahib Gurudwara in New Delhi on their 25th day of protest against Brij Bhushan. Grapplers including Punia, Sakshi, Vinesh and others joined the march demanding the arrest of the WFI chief charged with sexual harassment of athletes.

The protestors have been demanding the registration of an FIR against the WFI chief and his arrest into the allegations of sexual harassment. Two separate FIRs were registered on April 28 following the Supreme Court's notice to Delhi Police into the plea filed by the wrestlers.

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Earlier on April 24, The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) will be forming an ad-hoc committee to conduct the elections for the Executive Committee of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) within 45 days of its formation, to manage day-to-day affairs of the body, including the selection of athletes and making entries for the participation of players in international events. This committee will be functioning for an interim period till a new Executive Committee takes charge.

Delhi Police has filed a status report on the application moved by woman wrestlers in an alleged offence of sexual offence levelled against WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The court was also informed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the mat

The agitating wrestlers have demanded the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Singh who, they alleged, sexually harassed several women grapplers. Police have requested the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to grant necessary permission to create temporary jail in the MC Primary Girls School, Kanjawala Chowk, Old Bawana on Sunday, if required, so that law and order arrangement could be maintained.

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