A day after a glass-encased replica of the Indian Constitution was vandalised by some miscreants near Dr. BR Ambedkar’s statue located outside the local railway station, Parbhani city in Marathwada erupted once again on Wednesday, as protesters resorted to large-scale violence, arson and stone-pelting, amid a bandh called by the Ambedkarite activists.

The protests turned violent as an angry mob broke into the District Collector’s office and went on a rampage, damaging furniture and window panes, while some protestors indulged in acts of arson and stone-pelting in the neighbourhood. Agitated mobs also hurled stones near the district collector’s office, while they set ablaze some vehicles, burnt tyres and garbage on the roads. Some of the violent protestors were seen moving around the place wielding sticks, rods and stones.

The police burst tear-gas shells near the district collector’s office to quell the irate protestors. The protestors set on fire a huge pile of PVC pipes kept in front of a shop. “The police fired tear-gas shells and dispersed the rioting mobs,” Acting Superintendent of Police Yeshwant Kale said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Shahji Umap, who heads the Nanded Range, rushed to Parbhani to review and control the situation in Parbhani city.

Prohibitory orders have been issued in some of the affected areas of Parbhani district, while additional reinforcements have been rushed to the riot-affected areas to assist the local police. 

The protestors were demanding the arrest of a miscreant behind the vandalisation of the replica of the Indian Constitution. Meanwhile, one Sopan Dattarao Pawar (45) was arrested in connection with the vandalisation of the replica of the Indian Constitution.

Immediately after the desecration of the replica of the Indian Constitution, Parbhani had witnessed violence on Tuesday. On Wednesday, violence broke out once again in Parbhani, while a bandh was observed in the Vasmat town in the neighbouring Hingoli district.  

The violence escalated after the protestors resorted to “rail-roko” at the  Parbhani railway station and attacked the loco-pilot of the Nandigram Express. “The vandalisation of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful to say the least. It is not the first time such a vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened,” Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder-president and late Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar wrote on micro-blogging site “X”. 

“VBA Parbhani district karyakartas were the first to be on the scene and their protests led to the police filing an FIR and the arrest of one of the miscreants. I request everyone to maintain law and order. If all the miscreants are not arrested within the next 24 hours, consequences will follow,” Ambedkar added.

Former leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said: “The situation got out of control in Parbhani as there was a lack of immediate action by the police. The government must give confidence to the people that the matter will not escalate further. I appeal to the Constitution lovers and the public to maintain their cool and cooperate with the masses”. “The Maharashtra government is taking necessary action to ensure normalcy Parbhani,” Bharatiya Janata Party MLC Pravin Darekar said.

Meanwhile, the police and district administration have appealed to the people not to lend credence to rumours and remain calm. As a precautionary measure, the police cut off the Internet in Parbhani city.