Violence on Republic Day | Delhi police arrested Maninder Singh, who wielded swords in the Red Fort

Maninder Singh, who works as a car mechanic, was arrested on February 16 at around 7.45 pm near the CD-Block bus stop in Pitampura, northwest Delhi

A 30-year-old man who allegedly wielded swords to “motivate” protesters at the Red Fort during the Republic Day violence in Delhi was arrested, police said on February 17.

Read also: Peasant Protests | Farmers’ unions are calling for a high-level judicial investigation into Republic Day violence, cases against farmers

Maninder Singh, who works as a car mechanic, was arrested on February 16 at around 7.45 pm near the CD-Block bus stop in Pitampura, northwest Delhi.

“Singh was seen in a video in which two swords were waved in the Red Fort in order to motivate or radicalize and activate the violent anti-national elements, which are brutal attacks or attacks on police on duty with swords, khandas, iron bars, axes” Barsaas, “sticks, etc. and the damaged historical monument Red Fort on Republic Day,” said Pramod Singh Kushwah, deputy police commissioner (special cell).

The suspect, who runs a sword training school on an empty lot near his home in Swaroop Nagar, “has announced that he has been radicalized by provoking Facebook posts from various groups. He visited the Singhu border frequently and was highly motivated by speeches from the leaders there, ”police said.

Also read: Violence on Republic Day | The Delhi court extends Deep Sidhu’s detention by 7 days

Thousands of protesters clashed with police during the tractor parade called by the farmers’ unions on January 26th to highlight their calls for the center’s three farm laws to be repealed. Many of the demonstrators who drove tractors reached the Red Fort and entered the memorial. Some of them even hoisted religious flags on their domes and on the flagpole on the city walls.

According to the police, Mr. Singh had “motivated” six people from the neighborhood. All six who rode on bicycles had accompanied the tractor rally of the farmers who drove from the border with Singhu towards Mukarba Chowk on Republic Day.

Before joining the tractor parade, Mr. Singh carried two swords – 4.3 foot khandas – which were used in swinging in the Red Fort. The swords were recovered from his house, police said.

Read also: Peasant Protests | Delhi Police are holding 200 people in connection with violence on Republic Day

According to their plan, the suspect, along with his five associates and other unknown armed villains, entered the Red Fort and resorted to the sword dance.

“This sword dance motivated violent protesters to wreak havoc in the Red Fort by indulging in all kinds of violence against officials, including the police on duty, and by damaging the Red Fort’s historic monument,” said Kushwah.

A long video was found on his cell phone allegedly wielding swords in the Red Fort on January 26th. More photos of his presence at the Singhu border are on his phone, police said, adding that an investigation is ongoing.

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