Wrestler Bajrang Punia has condemned individuals associated with the IT cell after a manipulated photo of Sangeeta Phogat and Vinesh Phogat, showing them smiling while being detained by the police, circulated on Twitter. The wrestlers, along with Sakshi Malik and their supporters, were detained when they attempted to march toward the newly inaugurated parliament building in Delhi.
Bajrang Punia took to Twitter and shared two photos side by side: one genuine and the other doctored. The genuine photo did not depict Sangeeta Phogat and Vinesh Phogat smiling. However, the manipulated image falsely portrayed them with smiles, suggesting they were not serious about their protest.
Punia denounced the IT cell individuals responsible for spreading the false picture. He made it clear that a complaint would be filed against the person who posted the fake image. The athletes have been protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), and demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment.
The protest site at Jantar Mantar witnessed chaotic scenes as it was just 3 kilometers from the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building. After the wrestlers were forcibly loaded into buses and transported to different locations, the Delhi Police initiated the clearance of the protest site. They removed cots, mattresses, coolers, fans, and a tarpaulin ceiling, along with other belongings belonging to the wrestlers.
Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), stated that the protesters ignored repeated requests and warnings. When the police personnel attempted to prevent them from moving beyond the designated protest area, the protesters engaged in physical confrontations with them. Pathak deemed the behavior of the wrestlers as “highly irresponsible” and emphasized that today was an important day for the country with the inauguration of the new parliament building.
The incident highlights the tension and clashes that unfolded between the wrestlers and the police during their protest. The manipulation of the photo and its circulation on social media further fueled the controversy, with Bajrang Punia taking a stand against those responsible for spreading false information. The issue surrounding the Wrestling Federation of India chief and the allegations of sexual harassment against him continue to remain at the center of the athletes’ protest, highlighting the need for a resolution and a fair investigation into the matter.
