The Delhi Police has arrested a man who brandished swords in his both hands, with the intent of "motivating" and "energising" protesters at Red Fort during the violence on Republic Day.
The accused has been identified as Maninder Singh, who runs a sword training school near his home in Swaroop Nagar in northwest Delhi and works as a car AC mechanic.
According to Pramod Singh Kushwaha, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Cell, Singh was arrested around 7.45 PM on Tuesday near the C D block bus stop in nearby Pitampura.
“Singh was seen in a video swinging two swords at Red Fort with the intent of motivating or radicalising and energising violent anti-national elements indulging in brutal assault and attacking police persons on duty with swords, 'khandas', iron rods, axes, 'barsaas', sticks etc and damaging the historical Red Fort on Republic Day,” said the DCP.
“Singh was "radicalised" by seeing provoking Facebook posts of various groups. He would frequently visit the Singhu border and was "highly motivated" by speeches made by leaders there. He also "motivated" six people from the neighbourhood who had accompanied the tractor parade that headed from Singhu border towards the Mukarba Chowk,” said the DCP.
“Two swords -- 4.3-foot-long 'khandas' -- used by Singh have been recovered from his house. According to the plan, Singh, five of his associates and other unknown armed men entered the Red Fort where he did a sword dance,” said the DCP.
“That sword dance motivated violent protesters to cause more mayhem at Red Fort by indulging in all sorts of violence against public servants, including policemen on duty there, and causing damage to the Red Fort,” said the DCP.
“The video of him swinging swords at the Red Fort was found in his mobile phone. Other photos of his presence at Singhu border are also there and an investigation was on,” said the DCP.
Over 120 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence across Delhi on January 26, officials said.
Clashes broke out between protesters and police during the tractor parade called by farmer unions to highlight their demand for a rollback of the Centre's three farm laws. Many protesters reached the Red Fort on tractors and entered the monument, some hoisting religious flags on the flagstaff and its domes.