No cop was drunk: Delhi Police counters wrestlers' allegations of assault

Delhi Police on Thursday denied allegations that its personnel were drunk as women wrestlers claimed that they were pushed and abused by 'drunk' cops during a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), New Delhi, Pranav Tayal said after the medical examination no alcohol was found. "No force was used by police personnel against the protestors. Regarding injury to one protestor, he left the hospital against medical advice and has not given a statement to the police yet," the DCP tweeted from his official handle.

The Delhi Police also said that the supporters of wrestlers became aggressive after they were stopped from taking folding beds at the protest site which they were not allowed, leading to the chaos.

On the allegations of Delhi Women Commission chief Swati Maliwal that she was being detained, the DCP said that the action was taken in view of the law and order situation in the area. "Swati Maliwal was detained and then released," the DCP said.

At least three wrestlers were injured in the scuffle that broke out between them and police late Wednesday night. Phogat, an award-winning wrestler, also received head injuries. Police said barricades have been put up at several locations across Delhi as precautionary measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place.

The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23.

They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference later in the day, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said the tweet has "three lies". "Police have been accused of misbehaving with one of our women wrestlers. They are the accused and they are only probing the matter. The Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) will probe the matter. DCW chief Swati Maliwal had reached the spot along with a counsellor last night after receiving the complaint. What did the police do? They threw her away. Police are not allowing investigation. Please read law books and basic law," he said.

He also questioned the police's claims that the policemen were not drunk. Bharadwaj claimed the the personnel who was allegedly drunk was made to throw up by the police so that he is not detected in an alcohol test. "It was seen by us that he was made to throw up. They will come all clear in the alcohol test. Police trying to save their skin." Bharadwaj said there were heavy rains on Wednesday therefore the wrestlers could not sleep at the protest site.

"Police should be ashamed. They did not allow cots. Special Commissioner of Police was also on the spot. The DCP was there. Dushyant Phogat sustained head injuries yesterday. How did he sustain head injury? All these dram is being done by them," he alleged. He even went to the extent of saying that the injuries to police personnel could be self-inflicted. "There were so many cameramen there but no one captured the injured policemen. Even small-time criminals in Tihar know that they can inflict injuries by scratching themselves or ramming their head into a wall. It is a cheap thing that they inflicted injuries on their own. They are only telling lies," he said. He also alleged Delhi Police officials are being directed by the Centre to do this. "This is not Delhi Police's lie but the Centre's lie. The Centre is being exposed." He also said the protest site was made out-of-bounds for people as the police barricaded the area, not allowing even reporters. "Our people were lathicharged. Who issued orders for a lathicharge? What was happening? Police will have to answer. The Centre's arrogance was shattered by farmers. Similarly, these women wrestlers will break their arrogance," he added.

(with PTI inputs)