Daijiworld Media Network - Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, Dec 31: Ten members of the Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD) have been arrested for allegedly distributing swords from the organisation’s office in Shalimar Garden, Ghaziabad, police said on Tuesday. Eight swords were also recovered during the operation.

Police said a case was registered against 40 persons, including 30 unidentified individuals, at the Shalimar Garden police station after a video showing the distribution of swords went viral on social media.

According to police, information was received on December 29 that HRD national president Pinky Chaudhary, along with his associates, was distributing swords at the outfit’s office in Shalimar Garden X-2. “The video showed several people holding swords, raising slogans and engaging in aggressive demonstrations,” police said in a statement.

The arrested accused were identified as Kapil Kumar, Shyam Prasad, Arun Jain, Rampal, Amit Singh, Amit Kumar, Amit Arora, Mohit Kumar, Devendra Baghel and Ujala Singh. They were apprehended near a telephone exchange in the area.

The main accused, Pinky Chaudhary, is currently absconding. After the arrests, Chaudhary posted another video on social media in which he claimed that swords were distributed earlier in the day and that around 250 to 300 police personnel later reached the office. He said some of his workers had been arrested and claimed his intention was to “make Hindu families strong,” also referring to the prevailing situation in Bangladesh.

During interrogation, the arrested persons told police that they had gathered at the office on Chaudhary’s instructions and that the swords were arranged by him. Police said further legal action is underway and the criminal antecedents of all those arrested are being verified.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions following the killing of a young Hindu man during recent violent protests in Bangladesh, which has triggered demonstrations by Hindu nationalist groups in several parts of India.