India's top wrestlers who have been protesting in Delhi since 23 April have accused the police of abuse and assault. They are demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India, alleging that he sexually abused athletes. The police deny these allegations and say that an altercation occurred at the protest site but that no one was beaten up. The wrestlers have gone to India's top court to seek action against Mr. Singh, which is scheduled for Thursday.
On Wednesday night, the wrestlers held a press conference where they alleged that they were assaulted by the police while trying to bring cots to the protest site. Vinesh Phogat, a two-time World Championship medallist, said, "The area is filled with water due to rains and there was no place to sleep, so we thought of bringing the cots." She also claimed that a drunk policeman had assaulted her brother, and another shoved her. Wrestler Geeta Phogat tweeted that her brother Dushyant was hit on the head, and another athlete was injured. In a video shared by the Press Trust of India news agency, Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik can be seen in tears as Vinesh Phogat consoled her during the chaos.
"The way they have made us suffer, I would not want any athlete to win a medal for the country," Vinesh Phogat told the media later. Olympics champion Bajrang Punia has appealed to people to join their protest to protect "the dignity of our daughters".
The police deny any official was drunk on site. A senior police official told the Indian Express, "There were a few men who tried bringing cots to the protest site. When policemen asked them about it, they got aggressive and the protesters joined them." Somnath Bharti, a legislator of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which governs Delhi, said he was detained by the Delhi police for demanding foldable cots for the wrestlers.
The wrestlers began protesting in January when Vinesh Phogat alleged that at least ten women wrestlers had told her they had been sexually exploited by Mr. Singh, who is an influential lawmaker and politician from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party. The wrestlers called off their protests after the federal government assured them of action and asked Mr. Singh to step aside for a few weeks. The Indian Olympic Association also set up a committee to investigate the allegations against Mr. Singh. However, the wrestlers resumed their protests on 23 April, saying they wouldn't budge until Mr Singh was arrested.
The sports ministry has admitted to structural lapses in the Wrestling Federation of India, saying it had no Internal Complaints Committee to deal with allegations of sexual harassment within the organization. It said that there was a "need for more transparency" and "effective communication" between the Wrestling Federation of India and sportspersons.
On 28 April, the Delhi Police filed two complaints against Mr. Singh - one of them under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act based on a minor's complaint. But he is yet to be questioned or arrested.