Ambedkar Statue Vandalised in Ballia; Fifth Such Incident Raises Tension in Gadwar
Ballia village erupts in anger as miscreants target Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s statue.
Tension escalated in the Gadwar area of Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district after unidentified individuals vandalised a statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, breaking one of its fingers late Wednesday night. The statue, located along the Gadwar-Nagra Road in Rampur Asli village, became the fifth such memorial targeted in the region within a short span, intensifying local resentment and raising serious concerns over repeated attempts to provoke communal disharmony.
Villagers discovered the damage on Wednesday evening and immediately informed the authorities. This marks a disturbing pattern of vandalism against symbols associated with the Dalit icon and architect of the Indian Constitution, prompting fears that the incidents are deliberate attempts to disturb social harmony in an area already sensitive to caste-related issues.
A high-level team comprising Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ravi Kumar, Circle Officer Mohammad Usman, and other senior police and administrative officials rushed to the spot on Thursday morning to assess the situation and prevent any escalation. Agitated residents gathered in large numbers and submitted a five-point memorandum demanding swift identification and arrest of the culprits, construction of a protective boundary wall around the statue, and immediate installation of CCTV cameras for round-the-clock surveillance.
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Authorities assured the villagers of strict action against the perpetrators and appealed for calm. Station House Officer Hitesh Kumar confirmed that the damaged finger of the statue has been promptly repaired, CCTV cameras have been installed at the site, and the overall situation is now peaceful and under complete control.
An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, based on a complaint filed by a local resident. Police have intensified patrolling in the area and launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible for the act of desecration.
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