Power, water, food supply suspended at Jantar Mantar: Bajrang Punia
After two first information reports (FIRs) were filed against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh by the Delhi Police, Bajrang Punia reportedly claimed electricity was suspended at Delhi's Jantar Mantar where the wrestlers are protesting. The police put up barricades around the protest site and weren't allowing the supply of food and water to the wrestlers, added the Olympic medalist.
Why does this story matter?
A total of seven female wrestlers, including a minor, filed a complaint against the president of the wrestling federation, accusing him of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. Prominent Indian wrestlers, including the likes of Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Punia, have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since Sunday, demanding Singh's arrest.
Won't let water or food in: ACP reportedly told Punia
In a short video posted on his Instagram handle, Punia claimed that cops asked the protesting wrestlers to end their agitation after two FIRs were filed against the WFI president in the matter. Revealing his alleged discussions with an assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Punia said he was told, "Do whatever you can; we won't let water or food in."
Until justice is served, we will protest: Punia
Punia also called out the police for allegedly "beating up" individuals who were assigned to provide supplies at the protest site. "Until justice is served, we will protest no matter how much the police administration tortures us," the Olympic medalist said in the video. "When the entire country is in support of us, this is what the police are doing," he added.
Take a look at Punia's Instagram post
DCW chairperson reacts to Punia's claims
Swati Maliwal, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, also reacted to Punia's claims, saying, "Do not file FIR for the first 6 days, after that, stop the electricity, food, and water of the agitators." "Perhaps even the most oppressor king would not have done this to his opponent, yet this is a democracy, yet this is the Olympic champion," she wrote on Twitter.
Twitter post by Maliwal
Details on FIR against WFI chief
On Friday, the Delhi Police registered two FIR against Singh at the Connaught Place Police Station after the wrestlers moved the Supreme Court (SC) with their appeal. To note, the FIRs were registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with other relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections concerning outraging of modesty.
