Ambedkar statue vandalised in Yamunanagar village

AMBALA : Tension escalated in Badi Majra village in Yamunanagar after miscreants allegedly vandalised the Ambedkar statue in the wee hours of Tuesday. Soon after the news spread, hundreds of locals gathered to register their protest. A police team led by DSP headquarters, Subhash Chand, reached the spot after receiving the news and tried to pacify the protesting crowd.

Ambedkar’s statue, which was placed at the village’s Panchayat land, was allegedly destroyed by some unidentified persons. The statue was placed at a disputed site allotted for the slaughtering of animals.

Dalit leader Vikram Singh alleged that 10-12 persons vandalised the statue. “This has been done by the muscle men of the village. Such people wish to snuff out the voices of poor and Dalit families in the village. We have appealed to the district administration to act against the miscreants”, Singh said.

Agitators called off the protest only after the district administration assured them that a new statue of Ambedkar would be installed.

A villager, who did not wish to be named, said that some villagers had requested the Dalit leaders not to place the statue at the disputed land, but to no avail. He said, “A year ago, animals used to be slaughtered at the disputed site, when some villagers approached the Punjab–haryana high court seeking a ban on the activity. The case is still subjudice but slaughtering activity is no more allowed here. Despite a request to the Dalit community, they went ahead and placed the statue at the site. However, the upper caste people have not vandalised it.”

DSP Subhash Chand said they have received a complaint of statue vandalism of Ambedkar against 10 miscreants.

“We are investigating and prompt action will be taken against the miscreants. We have asked the Dalit community to place another statue there,” the DSP added.