Wrestlers' Protest: Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and others dragged by police; detained before Mahapanchayat

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Wrestlers' Protest turned ugly on the big day (Sunday, May 28) as their "peaceful" march to the new Parliament for a Mahila Mahapanchayat was cut short after a scuffle with the Delhi Police, who dragged the wrestlers away from the protest site at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The site was cleared as well.

All of the protestors, including leading faces Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, were detained by the police personnel as they attempted to march towards the new Parliament from the protest site.

The Mahila Mahapanchayat was called by the Khap on May 21 on the day of the inauguration of the new parliament as BJP MLA and Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh wasn't arrested under the charges of sexual harassment.

The scuffle between the police personnel and wrestlers started after the latter jumped over the barricades to start their march to the Parliament. Delhi Police beefed up security on the day with 2km-long barricading to stop the wrestlers from moving towards the Parliament.

The melee that broke out was caught on the camera by the media present at the spot as female police officers forcefully dragged the Olympic medallist Sakhshi Malik and triple Commonwealth Games champion Vinesh Phogat away from the protest site in ugly scenes.

Following her detention, Sakshi Malik took to Twitter to slam the police for their behaviour against the 'champions of the country' while sharing images of her and other wrestlers being dragged by the police.

Vinesh Phogat also posted a video on Twitter in the morning while alleging that several leaders, who are supporting their cause, have been detained since last night and detention of several others are still going on as they plan their march to the Parliament.

Speaking aftermath of the incident, Bajrang Punia said the Mahapanchayat will go ahead in front of the Parliament despite the crackdown by the police as he requested the authorities to release the detained protestors.

"Mahapanchayat will certainly be held today. We're fighting for our self-respect. They're inaugurating the new Parliament building today, but murdering democracy in the country. We appeal to the administration to release our people detained by police," Bajrang said.

Delhi Police Special CP Deepender Pathak told news agency ANI that security was tightened up to ensure that the inauguration of the new Parliament goes smoothly on the day as police personnel guarded the Tikri border as well to stop Khap panchayat leaders and farmers from joining the Mahila Mahapanchayat.

"We will not allow anything to disrupt the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The entire Delhi Police is on its toes to make sure the inauguration ceremony is conducted smoothly," Delhi Police Special CP Deepender Pathak told ANI.