‘Did we win medals for country to see this day?’

New Delhi: 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.

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.

According to the wrestlers, the police officers started behaving badly with them and even abused the women wrestlers.

“If you want to kill us, then kill us,” a crying Vinesh said during a late night media interaction. “Did we win medals for the country to see this day? We have not even eaten our food. Does every man have a right to abuse women? These police men are holding guns, they can kill us,” an emotionally drained Vinesh said.

“Where were female police officers? How can the male officers push us like that. We are not criminals. We do not deserve such treatment. The police officer who was drunk hit my brother,” the World Championship medallist said.

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

“I request everyone to reach Delhi by morning. This is the time. If not now, then when. This is question of dignity of our daughters. People like Brij Bhushan (WFI President) are roaming free despite being a criminal and all this is happening to us,” Bajrang said.

Asked to give more details, Bajrang said, “CCTV cameras must be here. Foortage will make it clear.”

Asked specifically if AAP leader Somnath Bharti had brought the folding beds, as being claimed by the Delhi Police, Bajrang said,”CCTV footagecan show he was not there when it happened. We had ordered the beds, we were bringing the beds inside.”

Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal met wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar here, hours after a scuffle broke out at the spot between the grapplers and police, leading to a couple of protesters getting injured.

Before the meeting, Maliwal had alleged that she was not being allowed to meet the wrestlers.

In a video shared by her on Twitter, she could be seen telling policemen that she holds a constitutional post and wanted to meet the protesters.

In response to her tweet, DCP, New Delhi, tweeted, “Hon’ble Chairperson DCW was stopped at the barricade by an officer and let go immediately. She is presently inside at the protest site. There is no restriction on individual entry to Jantar Mantar.”

According to their allegations, there were only male officers at the spot then, she said.