Police on Sunday arrested a number of India's most prominent wrestlers, including wrestler Bajrang Bunya and Olympic medallist Wrestler Sakshi Malik, as protests grew demanding the arrest of the president of the Wrestling Federation over allegations of sexual harassment of a number of female wrestlers.

Wrestling demonstrations against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who denies allegations of sexual harassment of a number of female wrestlers, began in January.

But the protests stalled after the sports ministry stripped Singh, who is also a member of parliament for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of all administrative powers.

इस IPS अधिकारी का एक्शन देखिए... ऐसी हिम्मत इसने बृज भूषण सिंह को पकड़ने में दिखा सकता है ये अफ़सर ? ये तो ऐसे लग रहा है जैसे मौक़ा मिले तो जान से ही मार दें। So Shameful !!! #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/rfi4Z5TOFG

— Rahul Tahiliani (@Rahultahiliani9) May 28, 2023

Wrestlers resumed protests on April 23 demanding Singh's arrest and have since camped out near the new parliament headquarters Modi inaugurated on Sunday.

Debendra Pathak, a senior Delhi police official, said: "They broke through the barriers and did not follow police instructions. They broke the law and that's why they were arrested."

This is how our champions are being treated. The world is watching us! #WrestlersProtest pic.twitter.com/rjrZvgAlSO

— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) May 28, 2023

Malek, a bronze medalist at Rio 2016 wrestling championships, posted photos and videos of police-pulled wrestlers.

She wrote on Twitter: "This is how our heroes are treated. The world is watching us."

Wrestlers Protest : गिरफ्तार करके ले जाते वक्त Sakshi ने क्या कहा? #wrestlersprotest #jantarmantar #vineshphogat #bajrangpunia #sakshimalik #delhipolice @SakshiMalik pic.twitter.com/OgEB3CA9Zb

— Haryana Tak (@haryana_tak) May 28, 2023

पहलवान सत्यावर्त कादयान को भी हिरासत में लिया गया #महिला_सम्मान_महापंचायत pic.twitter.com/74M6l5LuFT

— Gaon Savera (@GaonSavera) May 28, 2023