IT cell spreading morphed picture of wrestlers smiling in detention, says Bajrang Punia

Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia on Sunday accused the “IT [Information Technology] cell people” of circulating a morphed picture of protesting wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat. The IT cell refers to the publicity unit of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Several of India’s top wrestlers were detained by the police on Sunday while they were trying to march to the new Parliament building in New Delhi, demanding the arrest of their federation chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment allegations.

The athletes have been protesting in Jantar Mantar for more than a month over the lack of action against Singh, who is also a BJP MP.

On Sunday, the fake image circulated on social media by users sympathetic to the BJP showed Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat smiling after they were hauled away in a bus by police officials. The picture was shared with the claim that the wrestlers are not serious about their protest.

However, a reverse image search of the original picture leads to a tweet posted by journalist Mandeep Punia and it does not show Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat smiling, The Quint reported. It was shared hours before the morphed image emerged.

“IT cell people are spreading this false picture,” Punia wrote in a tweet. “We make it clear that a complaint will be filed against...

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