3 held for desecration of Ambedkar statues
HYDERABAD — Andhra Pradesh Police yesterday arrested three people for recent desecration of statues of B R Ambedkar in East Godavari district as Dalit groups continued protests in parts of the state.
Police brought three arrested youths before media and said they were on the lookout for 10 others involved in the Monday incident at Amlapuram.
Special investigating officer Krishnam Raju said the youths damaged the statues in an inebriated condition. “It is an act committed on the spur of a moment and no political group or any other section is involved in it,” he said.
However, Congress MP from coastal Andhra Harsha Kumar expressed his doubts over the arrests and demanded that the real culprits behind the attacks be nabbed.
Police also appealed to Dalit groups to call off their protests and urged them not to do anything which vitiates the peaceful atmosphere of the state.
On a call given by Dalit groups, a shutdown was observed in Eluru town of West Godavari, Medak and in parts of Adilabad district yesterday.
At least three statues of Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution and a Dalit icon, were desecrated on the outskirts of Amlapuram town on January 23. Another statue was vandalised at Dowleswaram, a suburb of Rajahmundry town in the same district on Thursday, triggering protests by Dalit groups.
A four-member ministerial delegation visited Amlapuram on Friday while the government directed all district collectors and superintendents of police across the state to be vigilant and take steps for protection of Ambedkar’s statues.
Meanwhile, a statue of a slain legislator was found vandalised at Tuni in Guntur district, sparking tension in the area. Police imposed prohibitory orders, banning any gathering of five or more people, and tightened the security in the town. — IANS