Wrestlers Clash with Police at Jantar Mantar Protest Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

A scuffle occurred at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi between wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and Delhi police on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred when the wrestlers attempted to bring in mattresses to sleep on after daylong rains. During the altercation, police reportedly abused and beat up the women wrestlers.

In an official statement, the Delhi Police said that Somnath Bharti arrived at the protest site with folding beds without permission. When confronted, the protesters became aggressive in trying to remove the beds from the truck, leading to a minor altercation, and Bharti was detained along with two others.

Video footage from the scene showed wrestlers arguing with uniformed members of the Delhi Police. Several on camera identified one of the policemen who allegedly targeted them.

Meanwhile, prominent wrestler Bajrang Punia has requested that the government take back all the medals he has won. Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti said he was detained by the police for supporting the wrestlers' demand for mattresses.

For the past 11 days, the wrestlers have been demanding the removal of BJP MP and chief of the country's wrestling federation Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexually harassing some of the top wrestlers.

Singh has denied any wrongdoing but stated that he will resign if Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the party requests it.