Indian actor held in connection with violence during farmers' protest

New Delhi - Delhi Police said Deep Sidhu had been arrested in connection with flag-hoisting at Red Fort on January 26.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu for his alleged involvement in January 26 violence in the Indian capital.

“Deep Sidhu, an accused in 26th January violence case, was arrested,” Delhi Police Special Cell said on Tuesday.

The investigation into the Republic Day violence is being conducted at three levels — local police, Special Cell and Crime Branch. The names of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana were included in the first information report registered in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on January 26, Delhi Police said earlier while adding that Sidhu was involved in the incident.”On January 26, some people hoisted the flag at Red Fort. Some of them have been identified out of which Deep Sidhu is the prime accused,” said Praveer Ranjan, Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Crime.

On Republic Day, a group of protestors did not follow the prearranged route and broke barricades to enter Delhi, clashed with police and vandalised property in several parts of the national capital during the farmers’ tractor rally. They also entered the Red Fort and unfurled their flags from its ramparts.

Farmers have been protesting at the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

• India