Most wanted in Red Fort violence case arrested, Delhi Police says his sword dancing motivated protesters
'Most wanted' in the Red Fort violence case, accused Maninder Singh Moni has been arrested from Delhi by the Delhi Police's Special Cell. Two swords also recovered from his house in Delhi, police said on Wednesday.
A team of the Delhi Police's Special Cell on Tuesday arrested one of the main accused in connection with the violence at the Red Fort complex on Republic Day. Two swords were also recovered from the possession of the accused.
Maninder Singh alias Moni, a 30-year-old AC mechanic, was wanted by the Delhi Police after his videos and photos surfaced from January 26, where he was seen swinging swords at Red Fort during a tractor rally organised by farmer unions protesting against the three farm laws, officials said on Wednesday.
'Most wanted' in the Red Fort violence case, Maninder Singh was held near the bus stop in Pitampura on Tuesday. Following his arrest, Delhi Police also recovered two swords from Maninder Singh’s house in Swaroop Nagar of Delhi.
#WATCH: Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Maninder Singh, wanted in connection with Red Fort violence. He was arrested from Pitam Pura & 2 swords were recovered from his house in Swaroop Nagar
Visuals from Jan 26 where Maninder Singh was seen brandishing 2 'khandas' at Red Fort pic.twitter.com/Tr51IyGLWe — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2021
'Maninder Singh's sword dancing at Red Fort motivated protesters'
During his interrogation, accused Maninder Singh told Delhi Police that he was a regular at Singhu border where farmers have been protesting for over two months. Maninder Singh told police that he was motivated by speeches made by farmer leaders at the protest site.
A most wanted person in Red Fort violence case, Maninder Singh (in pics), arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell yesterday in Delhi. Two swords recovered from his house.
(Pic 1 - screengrab from a video released by Delhi Police)
(Pic 2 - accused's pic released by Delhi Police) pic.twitter.com/8Ok8R9ey1Y — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2021
The accused revealed that he motivated five others in his neighbourhood to join the tractor rally on January 26 in Delhi. Before joining the tractor rally on January 26, Maninder Singh said he kept two swords with him. Riding on bikes, the group then accompanied the protesting farmers from Singhu border towards Mukarba Chowk.
As per their plan, the accused along with five others and unidentified armed miscreants entered Red Fort where Maninder swung swords. A video of him swinging swords at Red Fort on January 26 was also found in his mobile phone, Delhi Police said.
That sword dancing had 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 historical monument of Red Fort, Delhi Police sources said.
Maninder Singh runs a sword-training school near his house in Swaroop Nagar in Delhi, Delhi Police added.
The arrest of key accused Maninder Singh comes days after the Delhi Police arrested one Iqbal Singh in connection to the Republic Day violence case. Iqbal Singh, one of the accused in the case, was arrested from Hoshiarpur in Punjab on February 9.
Delhi Police was looking for Iqbal Singh for his alleged role in the Red Fort incident on January 26 and had announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for any information on his whereabouts. Iqbal Singh was accused of instigating the crowd near the Lahori Gate to storm the Red Fort.
As part of its probe in the case, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch last week took actor-activist Deep Sidhu, who is also under arrest, and Iqbal Singh to Red Fort to recreate the scene of events that unfolded at the historic monument on Republic Day during the farmer's tractor parade.
What happened in Delhi on January 26?
On January 26, tens of thousands of protesting farmers had clashed with the police in New Delhi during a tractor parade. The rally was called by farmer unions to reiterate their stance on the Centre’s farm laws.
#WATCH A protestor hoists a flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi#FarmLaws #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/Mn6oeGLrxJ — ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021
Many of them driving tractors reached the Red Fort and entered the monument, where a religious flag was also hoisted. Over 500 police personnel were injured. Many were also seen engaging in vandalism at various areas of New Delhi.
In the FIR registered in connection with the Red Fort violence, police alleged two magazines with 20 live cartridges were snatched from two constables by protestors who also damaged vehicles and robbed anti-riot gear.
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