STATUE OF BINOD BIHARI MAHTO DESECRATED IN DHANBAD: POLICE
DHANBAD: The statue of renowned educationist and social activist, late Binod Bihari Mahto, who is also one of the founders of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was desecrated on Thursday night by unidentified individuals at Binod Bihari Chowk on Eight Lane road in Dhanbad, sparking protests from residents under the banner of Binod Bihari Mahto Smarak Samiti, people familiar with the developments said on Friday.
The incident came to light Friday morning when some passersby noticed the face of the statue covered with a black cloth and also found a garland of slippers around the statue’s neck.
According to officials, the information soon spread throughout the town, and several people gathered at the site to express their anger over the incident. Office bearers and members of Binod Bihari Smarak Samiti, led by Galu Ram Mahto, president, who also reached the site, expressed resentment over the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of those behind it.
Galu Ram Mahto said, “We deeply condemn the incident as it is an act of great disrespect by anti-social elements towards a person who has contributed not only to spreading the light of education in the rural hinterland of the tribal state but also spearheaded the campaign for land rights of native residents of the state.”
Pramod Pandey, the officer in charge of Dhanbad Sadar police station, said, “We have lodged an FIR against unidentified individuals and have begun an investigation, taking the help of a technical team to identify those behind the incident.”