Wrestlers protest: Record our statements before a magrate, says Sakshi Malik

New Delhi: Rio Olympic bronze medall wrestler Sakshi Malik has called for a swift completion of the process of recording statements of the complainants — who have accused Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment — before a magrate.
Speaking during a media interaction on Saturday, Sakshi said, “We have discussed with our lawyers. Our statements have not been recorded under (section) 164 (Criminal Code of Procedure) and we are waiting for this. And the police have been given a deadline to ensure that the statements are recorded within this deadline. My request is to record our statements as soon as possible because only then can the case move forward,” Sakshi said.
A senior police officer confirmed on Saturday that the police had recorded the statements of the seven complainants, including the minor, under section 161 of the Criminal Code of Procedure. The wrestlers want it under section 164.
Seven women wrestlers, including a minor, filed complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against WFI president and BJP MP Singh on April 21 at the Connaught Place police station.
But when the police didn’t file FIRs, the wrestlers approached the Supreme Court. Subsequently, the police filed two FIRs, one under the POCSO Act and a second based on the complaints of adult women wrestlers.
The wrestlers, including Olympic medalls Bajrang Punia and Sakshi and World Championship medall Vinesh Phogat, are leading the protests at Jantar Mantar. They have stuck to their stand that the protest will only end when Singh is arrested under relevant sections.
Maha panchayat today
A maha panchayat of khap leaders will be held at Jantar Mantar on Sunday. A stream of leaders from farmer unions, worker unions, women’s organisations and student leaders are expected to reach Jantar Mantar in support of the protesting wrestlers who have been there day and night since April 23.
A senior police officer confirmed that between 1,500 to 2,000 people are expected to travel to Jantar Mantar. “We have made necessary arrangements,” the officer said.
Talking about the show of support, Vinesh said, “Tomorrow, a lot of people are expected to join us from villages, including those from khap panchayats, farmer and worker unions, student organisations… We appeal to everyone to be peaceful. Our success depends on a peaceful demonstration. We also request all who will come tomorrow to cooperate with authorities and police. We also request the police not to stop our supporters tomorrow. If police cooperate, then they will also cooperate.”
Bajrang also appealed to people around the country to conduct a candlelight march at 7 pm on May 7 (Sunday).
‘Ganguly can call us’
A day after former India skipper Sourav Ganguly said ‘let them fight their battles’ and that he ‘didn’t know what was happening’ when asked about the protesting wrestlers, World Championship medal Vinesh Phogat said they were ready to enlighten him of the ‘situation’ if he contacts them.
“If he wants to understand the matter and what is the situation then he can contact us and as a fellow athlete, we can tell him what is the situation. That is if he wants to support us and say that we need to be given justice. But for that, he has to approach us, we can’t approach him,” Vinesh said on Saturday.
At an event, Ganguly said, “Let them fight their battles and I really don’t know what is happening there. I obviously read in the newspapers… I realise one thing in the sports world… don’t talk about things you don’t have complete knowledge of. So I hope it gets resolved. The wrestlers win a lot of medals and bring accolades to the country and hopefully, it will be resolved,” Ganguly had said.