Maninder Singh alias Moni, one of prime accused in the Red Fort violence that took place during Republic Day has been arrested in Delhi. According to the Special Cell of Delhi Police, Singh was captured from Pitam Pura area of Delhi on Tuesday evening and added that two swords were also recovered from his house in Swaroop Nagar.
The 30-year-old works as a car AC mechanic, and has been arrested under 41.1 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Singh during the interrogation told police that he used to visit Singhu border, on the farmers’ protest site, frequently and said that he was extremely motivated by speeches made by the farmer leaders there.
Two swords of 4.3 feet were recovered from his house. A video of him swinging swords at the Red Fort on January 26 has been found on his mobile, along with his photos that he was present at the Red Fort during R-Day.
"Arrested accused has disclosed to have been radicalised by seeing provoking Facebook posts of various groups," the Delhi Police said in a statement.
The police said that Maninder had also motivated six people from his neighbourhood in Swaroop Nagar and all of them had accompanied the farmers during the tractor rally heading from Singhu border towards Mukarba Chowk on bikes. Maninder had kept 2 swords a day before joining the tractors rally. According to their plan, the involved suspect along with his six partners and some other unknown armed convicts entered the Red Fort and Maninder did sword dancing/swinging. His sword dancing had encouraged other protesters to create ruckus at the historic monument including assaulting the policemen, vandalising properties and the Red Fort office, the police added.
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Singh, according to the police, also runs a sword training school in a vacant plot near his house in Swaroop Nagar.
"The arrested person was seen in a video swinging two swords at Red Fort with intent to motivate/radicalise and energise the violent anti-national elements indulging in brutal assault/attack on police persons on duty with swords, khandas, iron rods, axes, barsaas, dandas etc and damaging historical monument Red Fort on Republic Day 2021," the police said in a statement.
Further interrogation of the accused is on.