Wrestlers' Protest: SC verdict not a setback, protest will continue, wrestlers say

They had hoped for a favourable ruling from the Supreme Court, but the protesting wrestlers, already incensed over alleged police high-handedness on Wednesday night, suffered another roadblock in their fight for justice against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as the apex court decided to close proceedings on the plea of sexual harassment allegations against the sidelined WFI chief, a BJP-strongman and six-time Lok Sabha MP.

The ad-hoc committee formed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to oversee the affairs of the crisis-ridden Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), on Thursday took charge of the federation. The Sports Ministry had instructed the IOA to form the ad-hoc committee and conduct elections within 45 days of its formation. The committee was formed last month.

Geeta Phogat detained by Delhi Police near Jahangirpuri

After the Supreme Court on Thursday closed the proceedings on a plea by three women wrestlers, who have levelled sexual harassment allegations against Brij Bhushan, the wrestlers said that they will continue the protest. The wrestlers also claimed that the top court's decision is not a setback and they will decide the future course of action after consulting their seniors.

No police personnel found drunk; sufficient women personnel were on spot on Wednesday night, says Delhi Police

No force used against protesting wrestlers; 5 police personnel injured, says Delhi Police

The protestors had to make their speeches without microphone as there was no generator set

The protesting wrestlers claimed that Delhi Police have taken away their generator set and the mattresses they had kept for drying, even as heavy police deployment continued near the protest site

Expressing shock over the "gross injustice being meted out to our champion wrestlers, who have brought glory to our nation," Stalin said in a tweet, "This is just not done."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged manhandling of protesting wrestlers in Delhi, saying contrary to the PM's "false promises" on empowering women, the BJP was "shielding" accused persons

From the courts

SC said security has been provided to wrestlers and rejected plea for probe monitoring by ex-Judge

SC closes proceedings on petition filed by 3 of 7 women wrestlers, on whose sexual harassment complaint FIRs have been registered against WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

There was heavy security at the Jantar Mantar site following last night's ruckus between the wrestlers and few Delhi police personnel, leading to injuries to two protesters

Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi Police personnel at Jantar Mantar: What we know so far

Hurt by the boorish behaviour of the Delhi Police, protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia on Thursday offered to return their medals and awards to the government, saying these honours are of no use if they are being subjected to such humiliation

Support from Rahul Gandhi

Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardhwaj hits out at Delhi Police for 'manhandling' protesting wrestlers

Midnight scuffle at Jantar Mantar: DCW chief Swati Maliwal detained as she tried to enter protest venue

After a late-night scuffle between wrestlers and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called a meeting of its MLAs, councillors and party officials in connection with the matter on Thursday

Heavy police deployment

Four people, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, were detained following the incident, police said

AAP minister Saurabh Bhardwaj was also among those who had reached the site to show his support to the top wrestlers of the country, including Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat among others, who are protesting here since April 23 against the chief of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment charges

Around 15 others were also detained in a bus

The police detained Rajya Sabha MP Dipendra Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal who had reached the spot to support the wrestlers

According to sources, heavy police force has been deployed at the site and the whole area has been barricaded

The Delhi Police has put in place adequate security measures around Jantar Mantar after an alleged scuffle between the protesting wrestlers and some police personnel at the protesting site

Scuffle between Wrestlers and Police at night in Delhi during Wrestlers' Protest at Jantar Mantar

Bajrang Punia exhorted the farmers and the general public to reach Jantar Mantar in their support.

Around 11 pm, a scuffle broke out at Jantar Mantar between the protesting wrestlers when they were bringing in folding beds for their night stay and the on-duty police personnel allegedly began enquiring about that.

The wrestlers are sitting on protest from April 23, demanding arrest of WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleging that he has sexually harassed seven female grapplers, including one minor.

Shocked and appalled by the boorish behaviour by the Delhi Police towards protesting wrestlers late Thursday evening, an emotionally distraught Vinesh Phogat said they were not criminals and did not deserve such disrespect.

Bajrang Punia speaks with media after the midnight scuffle

Police said AAP MLA Somnath Bharti had come with some folding beds at the protest site and was told by an ACP that it would not be allowed. The wrestlers then started taking the beds inside the protest site which led to a scuffle.

As the altercation reached a crescendo, senior police officials came to control the situation. At least 200-300 police personnel cordoned off the Jantar Mantar protest area. Only 20 wrestlers remained at the site.

Vinesh alleged that Dharmender Kumar Singh, the Assistant Commissioner of Police present at the site, also abused her.

The police then tried to detain Bajrang, Satyawrat, Jitender Kinha and the other male wrestlers, but Vinesh jumped the barricade and threw her body in the line of fire. She was again hit by a female constable in the skirmish.

Another wrestler, Dushyant Phogat, the brother of Geeta and Babita Phogat, suffered a cut on his forehead. He was taken to the RML Hospital for treatment.