The wrestlers have been booked under IPC Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act

Photo Credit : Sourced,

New Delhi, May 30

The Delhi Police have refused to let wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar against citing Supreme Court order and stating that the wrestlers can protest at any other spot. The wrestlers Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and others were detained and later released. 

The wrestlers were removed from the protesting site at Jantar Mantar on May 28 when they were marching towards the new Parliament building inauguration. 

The wrestlers after their release had stated that they are now going to call for all women Satyagraha against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who has bene accused of sexual harassment. Seven wresters including a minor had filed complaints of sexual harassment against him. 

Over 700 were detained on May 28 from different spots who wee gathering together for a protest march towards the new Parliament building. 

While the Jantar Mantar is a notified site for protests, senior officers said police permission is required for a protest, especially if it stretches into days.

The officials stated that citizens can protest at Jantar Mantar after seeking police permission. However, the wrestlers have been protesting for over a month by setting up camps. On May 28, they flouted rules and got violent while announcing the march towards the new Parliament; when police took action and cleared the protest site after detaining them. 

According to the police, under Supreme Court guidelines, they are allowed to stop a protest if they anticipate that the protestors will disturbance of law and order. They even clashed with police injuring a female constable who is undergoing treatment at a hospital. 

The wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since April 23 to demand the arrest of WFI president and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against Singh on April 28, including one under the POCSO Act pertaining to the allegations of the minor wrestler after the intervention of the SC. 

After the clashes on May 28, the Delhi Police booked the wrestlers under IPC Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in duty), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and Section 3 of Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

Sakshi Malik released a video clip saying, “As you know, we were marching peacefully yesterday, but the police detained and registered FIRs against us. We did not destroy any public property. There were 20-30 police personnel trying to detain one woman. I want to tell our supporters who are waiting for us that today (Monday), we were planning how to take our protest forward. The protests will continue and we are not backing down,” Malik said in a video clip on Monday.

The Delhi Police through the Twitter handle of DCP (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said, “The demonstration by the wrestlers was going on smoothly at Jantar Mantar. On Sunday, the protesters flouted the law in a frenzy… despite our requests. Hence, we cleared the site and ended the dharna… If the wrestlers apply for permission to stage their sit-in again in the future, they will be allowed to do so at any suitable notified place other than Jantar Mantar".