Wrestlers' Candlelight March: Security Arrangements Tightened From Jantar Mantar To India Gate

A huge crowd of protesters gathered outside Jantar Mantar Wrestlers protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, organised the march to mark the completion of a month of their fight for justice. Singh is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP.

The police have neither officially given nor denied permission to the protesters to hold the candlelight march at Jantar Mantar. However, they have arranged vehicles for the protesters to be taken to India Gate.

"The protesting wrestlers are planning to hold the march around 5 pm at India Gate. According to the wrestlers, around 500 protesters are expected to join the march. We have arranged vehicles for them. They can also go in their own vehicles, but the police will escort them to the destination and bring them back to Jantar Mantar," a senior officer told PTI.

"We will do our best to ensure that the event goes off peacefully," he added.

Traffic arrangements

The candlelight march could also lead to traffic congestion, police said, adding that traffic personnel deployed between Jantar Mantar and India Gate have been asked to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to commuters.

"We will deploy our traffic staff at India Gate. We already have our staff deployed there since the area often witnesses traffic congestion, especially in the evening. We might suggest diversions at one or two points to ensure a smooth flow of traffic," a senior traffic police official said.

The Delhi Traffic Police, in a tweet, also urged commuters to avoid Mansingh Road and the C-Hexagon and plan their travel for ISBTs, railway stations and the airport accordingly.

"A candle march from R/A Jaswant Singh Road to Kartavyapath Crossing on Mansingh Road will be held today at 1600 hrs onwards. Commuters are advised to avoid Mansingh Road and C-Hexagon and plan their travel for ISBT/Rly. Stations/Airports with sufficient time at hand," the tweet read.

Wrestlers, including Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malika and Bajrang Punia, have been staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar since April 23, demanding the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused by six female wrestlers, including a minor, of sexual harassment.

The Delhi Police filed two FIRs against the BJP MP last month on the basis of the complaints from the wrestlers. However, Singh has neither been removed from his position in the party nor in the organisation yet.

(With PTI inputs)