A statue of Dalit icon and father of the Indian Constitution BR Ambedkar was allegedly vandalised by some unidentified persons on Sunday morning at the Palahigate Mohalla Park, triggering off protests. Members of Dalit community blocked traffic on Phagwara-Hoshiarpur road. SHO Paramsunil Singh Randhawa said some suspects were being rounded up for questioning. “Arrest will be made after investigation,” he said. Following the development, protesters gathered at the Guru Ravidas Gurdwara and from there marched towards Hoshiarpur road demanding arrest of the culprits, replacement of the damaged statue, security to other statues of Dr Ambedkar installed at various places in the city. Also, Dalits-led by Surinder Dhanda, president, Punjab Ambedkar Sena, blocked the traffic on the Bhullarai Chowk, demanding arrest of the vandals. Punjab Ambedkar Sena leaders Mool Nivasi and Harbhajan Suman, BSP councillors Ramesh Kaul and Purnima and former State BSP general secretary Jarnail Nangal were among those who took part in the protest.
The dharna was lifted after Phagwara DSP Manpreet Singh Dhillon gave an assurance to the protesters that their demands would be looked into. Suman said they would call for a Phagwara bandh on Wednesday if the culprits were not arrested by Tuesday. local MlA Som Parkash, who visited the site of the incident, flayed the vandals for damaging the statue. A case under Section 295, injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class, of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against unidentified culprits who had vandalised the statue.