New Delhi: Actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu, who has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the 26 January violence in the national capital, was using devices with IP addresses in the US to upload his videos on Facebook and other social media platforms, according to Delhi Police sources.
He shuttled between 10 towns, including Bathinda, Ludhiana and Abohar, to evade arrest, said the sources.
Sidhu was arrested from Haryana’s Karnal around 10 pm Monday by teams of Delhi Police Special Cell, which had been camping in Punjab.
“When we tracked the videos that were being uploaded on social media by Sidhu, the IP addresses of the devices used were found to be in the US, so it was becoming difficult to track his location through that. Also, his friends and family members helped him to hide and avert arrest. He was absconding and was constantly changing his location,” said a senior police officer, who didn’t wish to be named.
Sidhu has now been sent to judicial custody for seven days and will be questioned by the Delhi Police Crime Branch in connection with the case.
The Special Cell will take his custody at a later stage, to probe his links in the country and abroad, and alleged involvement in a possible conspiracy.
On Republic Day, farmer protesters did not follow the pre-approved route and allegedly broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with the police and vandalised property in several parts of the capital during the farmers’ tractor rally.
A section of protesters also entered the Red Fort, damaging property in the vicinity and unfurled the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh religious flag, from its ramparts. Over 300 policemen were also injured in the clash.
The Delhi Police registered a case against unknown persons, under sections of rioting, assaulting public servants, attempt to murder, dacoity and criminal conspiracy along with other sections of the IPC in the matter. Sections under the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act 1971 were added to the FIR later.
Sidhu was made an accused after videos emerged of him instigating the crowd at the spot.
Wanted for provoking people, conspiracy
According to the Delhi Police, Sidhu is allegedly involved in a series of cases of violence registered in connection with events of 26 January across the national capital. He was declared wanted with a reward of Rs 1 lakh against his name.
A night ahead of the tractor rally, Sidhu had allegedly started instigating a group of farmers, sources said.
“On 25 January itself, he started instigating the crowd to not follow the set routes that were decided upon after talks between the farmer leaders and the police representatives,” said the officer quoted above.
“Then in many videos he is seen instigating the youngsters to be violent and breach barricades to march towards Red Fort. Moreover, in the videos from the Red Fort, he is seen instigating the crowd to put the Sikh flag at the ramparts of the building. He is also marching with lathis, sticks,” the officer said.
Videos also show him with one Jugraj Singh from Tarn Taran — who had unfurled the flag at Red Fort — and speaking to the crowd and instigating them with a loud hailer, said the officer.
“We will confront him with all the evidence we have, including the videos accessed from phones, CCTV cameras. Moreover, we will question him on how he gathered the crowd and planned the violence to unearth the conspiracy behind the 26 January violence,” he added.
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