India / Republic Day violence accused with ₹50,000 reward held from Punjab: Police

New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Iqbal Singh, another accused in the January 26 Delhi violence case, from Hoshiarpur in Punjab late Tuesday. He carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest.

Iqbal's arrest comes hours after the Delhi Police cell arrested Punjabi actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu from Zirakpur area between Chandigarh and Ambala for inciting farmers during the tractor rally on Republic Day at Red Fort and other areas. 

Sidhu, named in the FIR registered in connection with the violence at Red Fort, was arrested after a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest was announced by the police. He was present at the Red Fort when a religious flag and a farmers' flag were put on the flagpole at the historic monument, as per the FIR. Along with Sidhu, gangster-turned-activist Lakka Sadana has also been named in the FIR.

The Delhi Police had released pictures of alleged ‘rioters’ involved in the violence that took place at the Red Fort. The cops identified the suspects using facial analytics. Around 42 people were identified with the help of CCTV footage provided by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), while 20 suspects were identified from WhatsApp videos.

Sidhu was produced in Delhi's Tis Hazari court, where the police sought a 10-day remand. After the hearing, the court sent him to seven-day police remand. 

Khalistani sympathiser questions arrest

Khalistani sympathiser Mo Dhaliwal, however, branded Sidhu's arrest as punishment for dissent. Questioning his arrest, Mo Dhaliwal said on Twitter: “Our brother & activist Deep Sidhu was arrested for his presence in farmers' protest at Red Fort. Dissent against 'largest democracy in the world' lands you in jail where you are likely to experience abuse and torture.”