Man wielding 2 swords arrested in Red Fort case

Cops allege intent of accused was to ‘motivate & energise’ protesters

A man allegedly seen swinging swords near Red Fort during the tractor rally on Republic Day has been arrested. Police has alleged that he was swinging swords with the intent of “motivating” and “energising” protesters at Red Fort.

Maninder Singh, 30, who runs a sword training school near his home in Swaroop Nagar in northwest Delhi and works as a car AC mechanic, was arrested on Tuesday, police said.

"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," DCP (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said.

“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-footlong ‘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,” he said.

Over 120 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence across Delhi on January 26, officials said.