Police detain top protesting wrestlers as they attempt to march toward new Parliament building
New Delhi: Top Indian wrestlers, including Olympians and Commonwealth Games champions, were detained on Sunday as they attempted to stage a demonstration outside the newly inaugurated Parliament building.
The athletes have been demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India president, Brij Bhushan Singh, over allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation.
The wrestling federation chief, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP, has denied the allegations.
This protest comes as part of a larger movement of athletes rallying in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar since last month.
Thousands of police personnel were deployed in central Delhi as part of security measures for the inauguration of the new parliament building and the planned 'Mahila Mahapanchayat' (Women's Grand Assembly) by the wrestlers.
Officials also closed all entry and exit gates at the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan stations of the Delhi Metro.