Page 4 - Woman Wrestler

Father U-turn not decisive, police can still probe WFI chief case: Experts

The State takes over once an FIR has been registered, and the "volte-face" by the father of the minor wrestler claiming a false sexual harassment complaint was deliberately lodged against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, will not be decisive and police can still proceed with its probe, legal experts said on Friday. In a startling admission, the father of the wrestler Thursday said he deliberately filed a false police complaint of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Singh because he wanted to get back at the official for a perceived injustice to the girl. Singh has been facing relentless protests for the past six months by some top Indian grapplers over the allegations. The complaint by the minor wrestler has also led to an investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Reacting to the development, senior lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi said the father's statement is not decisive for the case, as once an FIR has b

Delhi Police takes wrestler Sangeeta to WFI chief's official residence

Delhi Police on Friday took wrestler Sangeeta Phogat to outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's official residence here to recreate the sequence of events that led to the sexual harassment of which he has been accused. According to sources, Phogat was accompanied by women constables. "At 1.30 pm women officers took Sangeeta Phogat to Brij Bhushan's official residence in Delhi. They were there for half an hour. They asked her to recreate the scene and recall the places where she faced harassment," sources said. The Delhi Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing sexual harassment allegations against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president and BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Uttar Pradesh is likely to submit in the court its investigation report in the two cases registered against him by next week, officials said on Wednesday. As part of its investigation, the SIT has questioned more than 180 people, the Delhi Police officials said. Top wrestlers of the country, ...

Wrestlers express intent to take part in Asian Games selection trials

A day after calling off their protest against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh having received assurance from the government, the wrestlers on Thursday expressed intent to take part in the Asian Games selection trials scheduled to be held later this month. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday said that all national federations are aiming to finalise the squads for the Asian Games, well before the July 15 deadline set by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The Games are set to take place in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had on April 27 announced that a three-member ad-hoc committee A two-member ad hoc committee of Bhupender Singh Bajwa and Suma Shirur, which is running the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) since May 4 will be conducting the selection trials most likely in the last week of June. However, the wrestlers want some more time to get ready for the trials. "We want to take

Will the daughters get justice in this atmosphere of fear: Vinesh Phogat

Asian Games gold medallist and one of the prominent faces of the wrestlers' protest against WFI chief, Vinesh Phogat on Thursday wondered if the country's daughters would get justice in this "atmosphere of fear and intimation". Phogat's tweet came days after the 'minor', whose complaint had formed basis of FIR against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh under the POCSO Act withdrew her sexual harassment allegations against the outgoing WFI president. "Will the daughters get justice in the atmosphere of fear and intimidation???" Vinesh wrote on her Twitter handle. In another tweet, she said, "May these daughters not lose courage one by one because of the delay in this fight for justice??? God give courage to all." The minor wrestler's father told PTI that they levelled sexual harassment charges against Singh because he wanted to settle score with the WFI chief, who he held responsible for his daughter's defeat in trials for the Under 17 Asian Championships. Vinesh, along with Olympic medalli

IOA calls wrestling trials 'much-needed break' for 2500 participants

IOA has called the open selection trials of U-15 and U-20 wrestlers a 'fair and transparent' affair, and a 'much-needed break' for the 2500 participants

Oppn using wrestlers as weapon; we won't protect guilty: West UP BJP chief

The government intends welfare of sportspersons and it is the Opposition which is "using" the protesting wrestlers as "weapon" against the Centre, BJP's western Uttar Pradesh chief Satyendra Sisodia said, underlining that his party will not work to protect anyone guilty. A group of wrestlers, including Olympians and World Championship medallists, have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including one minor. Singh, a BJP Lok Sabha MP, has denied all the charges. After a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, the wrestlers on Wednesday announced suspension of their protest till June 15 the time by which Delhi Police is expected to complete its probe into the sexual harassment allegations. "Only people engaged in politics are giving this issue a political colour. Our government is definitely with the sportspersons. Investigation ...

Wrestlers' protest: SIT to submit investigation report in court next week

The Delhi Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing sexual harassment allegations against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is likely to submit in the court its investigation report in the two cases registered against him by next week, officials said on Wednesday. As part of its investigation so far, the SIT has questioned more than 180 people, the Delhi Police officials said. Top wrestlers of the country, including Asian Games gold medallist Vinesh Phogat and Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia, had been protesting against Singh and demanding his arrest for allegedly sexually harassing seven female grapplers, including a minor. The protesting wrestlers on Wednesday met Sports Minister Anurag Thakur and agreed to suspend their agitation till June 15 after he assured them that a charge sheet against Singh will be filed by then and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections will be held by the end of the month. "The investigation report related to the two .

Grappling with patriarchy

The women wrestlers' protest unveils the political patronage that undergirds India's deeply-rooted patriarchy

Wrestlers to halt protest till June 15 after Anurag Thakur assures action

Wrestler Sakshi Malik accompanied star wrestler Bajrang Punia. However, Vinesh Phogat, one of the prominent faces in the protest, did not attend the meeting

Make woman WFI chief, scrap FIRs against us: Wrestlers to Anurag Thakur

The protesting wrestlers have been invited by the government for the second time days after they met Home Minister Amit Shah

Wrestlers' protest: Top wrestlers led by Bajrang Punia meet Anurag Thakur

A crucial meeting between top wrestlers led by Bajrang Punia and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur began at his residence on Wednesday morning as the government continued its effort to strike a deal with the protesting grapplers against outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The meeting was called upon by Thakur to break the impasse which has been going on for more than a month. It is the second round of meeting between the government and protesting wrestlers, who met Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday night. The wrestlers have been protesting against Brij Bhushan, demanding his arrest for alleged sexual harassment of seven women grapplers.

Will stand with wrestlers till justice is not delivered: Congress

Hooda said that it's been one and half months and the government and the Delhi Police have not made any arrest

Centre invites protesting wrestlers for talks on charges against WFI chief

Wrestlers protest update: The announcement from sports minister Anurag Thakur comes just days after the wrestlers met home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi

We have not withdrawn our support to wrestlers, says Rakesh Tikait

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Tuesday insisted that they have not withdrawn their support to the wrestlers and they have postponed the June 9 demonstration against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh only on the request of grapplers. It was reported that since farmer leaders are unhappy with the wrestlers for keeping them in dark about their meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they have decided to withdraw their support to the wrestlers. Olympic medallists Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik had met Shah on Saturday night to apprise him of their demands. The farmer leader, however, clarified that they are still supporting the wrestlers. "Our June 9 demonstration in Delhi remains postponed at the moment. We will wait for the outcome of meeting between government officials and protesting wrestlers. We (farmers' union) are in support of the wrestlers and will continue with our support to them," Tikait told PTI. Asked if he is aware of the next meeting between

Candlelight protest in Goa demands arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan

Politicians, social activists and people supporting the agitating wrestlers on Tuesday staged a candle light protest in Margao demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI)

Delhi Police records statements of WFI chief Bhushan's associates, workers

As a part of the ongoing probe into sexual harassment case, the Delhi Police visited residence of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in Gonda and recorded statements of his associates and workers

Delhi Police visits WFI chief's UP home, records statements of associates

The Delhi Police has recorded statements of associates of outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and those working at his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda as part of investigations into sexual harassment allegations against him, officials said on Tuesday. They also said the girl whose statement was the basis of a case being registered against Singh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has recorded a fresh statement under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 164. The officials said police are collecting evidence in connection with the case filed against the BJP MP, and will submit a report in court accordingly. "A team of Delhi Police visited Gonda and recorded statements of Singh's associates and those working at his house, including his driver. This is being done as part of further investigation to collect evidence and corroborate versions of the witnesses with that of Singh and the complainants in the case," an official said. "Since t

Rajput group announces support to Brij Bhushan over wrestlers' allegations

"We stand in support of the wrestlers, but khaps are politicising this issue and we strongly condemn this," said the Rajput Samiti

Will continue fight: Sakshi, Bajrang; refutes reports of their withdrawal

Olympic medallists Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia on Monday said they will continue their fight for justice, asserting that none of the wrestlers have backed down and rubbished reports of their withdrawal from the protest as attempts to "sabotage" the movement. The news of our withdrawing from the movement is just a "rumour", Punia said, adding that the report of women wrestlers taking back the FIR is also "false". Bajrang, Sakshi along with fellow Olympian and World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat have been protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, demanding his arrest on allegations of sexual harassment against seven wrestlers, including one minor. Singh has denied all the charges. "This news is completely wrong. In the fight for justice, none of us has backed down, nor will we. Along with Satyagraha, I am fulfilling my responsibility in Railways. Our fight continues till justice is served. Please don't spread any wrong .

Wrestlers resume Railway duties, Sakshi to continue fight while working

After getting evicted from Jantar Mantar on May 28, top wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik and Vinesh Phogat have resumed their duties in the Railways, sources said