A scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and the Delhi Police in the later hours of Wednesday, 3 March. The brawl resulted in multiple detentions, alongside injuries to some of the protestors.
Following heavy rainfall in Delhi on Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) politician Somnath Bharti arrived at Jantar Mantar at night with folding beds for the wrestlers. Delhi Police though stopped Bharti, citing a lack of permission.
This led to a skirmish between the two parties, with the wrestlers also getting involved. The scuffle led to some wrestlers getting injured, including Vinesh Phogat’s cousin brother, Dushyant Phogat, who has been taken to the hospital.
Vinesh, meanwhile, claimed that drunk police officers abused her during the scuffle.
I was abused and pushed around by policemen. Where were the women police personnel? If you want to kill us, kill us. Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These policemen are holding guns, they can kill us.Vinesh Phogat
The protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police got into a skirmish in the later hours of 3 May, leading to a couple of wrestlers getting injured.
On Thursday, wrestlers have stated that they are planning to return their medals.
The wrestlers further claimed that Delhi Police are yet to record testimonies of the female grapplers who were sexually harassed by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, despite an FIR being lodged on 28 April.
In a hearing on Thursday, Supreme Court closed proceedings and asked wrestlers to move high court or magistrate.
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No Police Personnel Were Drunk: DCP
Responding to the allegations of a police personnel manhandling the wrestlers in a state of intoxication, the DCP of New Delhi, Pranav Tayal stated that a medical examination was conducted, and no traces of alcohol were found.
"The wrestlers levied allegations of a police officer being in a drunken state. As per their complaints, we conducted a medical examination of that particular person, and no traces of alcohol were found," the DCP stated.
Delhi Police Detain 15, Scuffle at Singhu Border
Having previously announced that they will be barricading multiple places in the city, Delhi Police have detained 15 people, including farmers' union leader, Abhimanyu Konar.
"Police have detained around 15 people. Farmers union leader Abhimanyu Kohar was coming from Sonipat to Delhi to support the wrestlers," a statement from the police read.
Taking to Twitter, Konar wrote "Delhi Police has detained us from Singhu border, while committing hooliganism and assaulting elderly farmers. We are now being kept in Bawana Sector 1 police station. People of conscience, please come out of the house for the honor of our sisters and daughters."
Supreme Court Closes Proceedings
As per latest updates from the Supreme Court hearing of the wrestlers' plea, the apex court has decided to close the proceedings, citing the purpose of petition has been fulfilled.
CJI DY Chandrachud stated that the purpose of wrestlers' petition was seeking an FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, which has already been lodged by the Delhi Police. Accordingly, the apex court closed proceedings, asking the wrestlers to now move high court or magistrate.
"Keeping in mind the ambit of these proceedings, we close the proceedings at this stage. If petitioners wish for something else, they can approach the magistrate or the HC in its jurisdiction," CJI DY Chandrachud said.
Vinesh Recounts Incidents Leading to Scuffle
At a press conference, Commonwealth Games medallist Vinesh Phogat recounted incidents which led to the skirmish between protesting wrestlers and the Delhi Police.