Ambedkar statue vandalised in Itaunja

LUCKNOW : A statue of Dalit icon Dr BR Ambedkar was vandalised by miscreants in Chaturabagh village under Itaunja police station of Lucknow on Tuesday morning.

“Villagers found one arm of the statue broken and reported the matter to the nearby police station. A team was sent to the area immediately,” said Beenu Singh, circle officer of the area.

The 4-feet statue is located on the outskirts of the village, some 25 km from the district headquarters. The village has a mixed population of around 4,000 people, according to police.

“The incident appears to be an attempt to whip up tensions in the area, but we managed to avoid such situation,” said the officer.

The police team that reached the spot was holding a peace meeting in the village. Efforts were also on to restore the statue.

Meanwhile, to deter such actions, police lodged an FIR in the matter against unknown persons and started investigation. A police picket was also deployed near the statue.

“Our teams are on a lookout to arrest people responsible for the act, said the officer. People of all communities in the village have assured of support in the investigation. The situation in the village is peaceful and in control,” added CO.

This was one of at least a dozen incidents reported from across UP this year. In July, miscreants vandalised an Ambedkar statue in Ballia. Similar incidents were also reported from Firozabad and Badaun among other places.