Security tightened in national capital as SKM extends support to protesting wrestlers

Security was beefed up at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Sunday after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced that it would stage nationwide protests, including in Delhi, in support of the protesting grapplers.

SKM on Saturday announced that it will hold nationwide protests in support of some wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Briji Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Delhi Police has planned elaborate security arrangements near Jantar Mantar and city border areas ahead of the visit, officials said. A senior Delhi Police official said tight security will be in place near Jantar Mantar due to the delegation's visit. Another official said checks in border areas would be strengthened and barricades would be put up. There will be further deployments, particularly in border areas, and increased patrolling, police said.

On Sunday, several senior Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders from Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh along with hundreds of farmers will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar and extend maximum support to the wrestlers, the statement said. The outfit also demanded the immediate arrest of Singh.

The announcement regarding Sunday's visit comes a day after Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political), a breakaway group of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha that spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now repealed farm laws, said a large number of farmers would meet. at Jantar Mantar on Monday (May 8) to support the wrestlers. For more than ten days now, wrestlers have been protesting at Jantar Mantar demanding the arrest and removal of a BJP MP and WFI chief in response to allegations of sexual harassment by wrestlers.

Earlier, Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij on Friday offered his support to the wrestlers staging a protest near the Jantar Mantar, saying he had complete sympathy and support for the protesting wrestlers. Vij even assured the grapplers that he would be willing to act as a mediator and represent them in dealings with the authorities.

"This whole matter is now being dealt with at the highest level. Since I am also the Minister of Sports, my sympathy and support goes to the protesting wrestlers. If they want me to meditate and talk to the government, I am willing to do it,” Vij said, according to reports.

On 28 April, the Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with these allegations.