Hindu Raksha Dal hands out swords, urges Hindus to 'defend' themselves; 10 arrested

A police official said in Ghaziabad that the police had received information that swords were distributed by the Hindu Raksha Dal workers at Shalimar Garden locality in Ghaziabad.

Lucknow: Ten members of the Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD) were arrested for allegedly distributing swords among the people in Ghaziabad town on Wednesday.

According to the police sources, cases were also lodged against the outfit’s president Pinki Chowdhary and over two dozen unidentified persons.

A police official in Ghaziabad said that the police had received information that swords were distributed by the Hindu Raksha Dal workers at Shalimar Garden locality in Ghaziabad.

A police team was rushed there and ten members of the outfit were arrested. Several swords were also seized from the spot.

Those arrested told the cops that the swords were given to them by Chowdhary to distribute among the people.

A video showing some saffron clad youths brandishing the swords also went viral on social media platforms. The youths were also heard raising ‘anti-Muslim’ slogans.

The saffron workers said that the swords were being distributed to enable the Hindus to protect themselves from ‘attacks’ from the other community.

Police said that efforts were on to identify all those who were present there with the help of CCTV footage. ‘’Strict action will be ensured against all these people,’’ a senior police official said in Ghaziabad.

Meanwhile controversial seer Yati Narsimhananda supported Chowdhary and said that the swords were for ‘self-protection’. Narsimhananda is facing cases including those of hate speech.