Even after strict directions by Chief Minister on checking damage to statues of icons, efforts of the state police came a cropper as fresh cases of vandalising of statues of Bhim Rao Ambedkar were reported from Ballia and Badaun districts respectively.
In Ballia’s Thedwari village in Nagra police station area, the right hand, leg and head of Dr Ambedkar’s statue was found damaged on Saturday morning. The incident led to tension as members of Dalit community gathered at the spot and raised anti-government slogans.
Deputy SP Avdhesh Chaudhary rushed to the spot with additional force and placated the locals. The situation was still tense but under control. Orders have been issued by district magistrate to replace the statue at the earliest.
Elsewhere in Badaun, a statue of Dr Ambedkar installed in a park at Dugraiya village was found damaged on Saturday morning. SP of Badaun, Kamal Kishore said that the police covered the vandalised statue and started a probe. Additional force has been deployed and a case was registered against unidentified persons.
Similar incidents have earlier taken place in Ferozabad, Etah, Siddhartnagar, Azamgarh, Meerut, Allahabad and some other districts recently.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had issued directives to district magistrates and SPs to take steps for ensuring security of statues installed in respective jurisdiction and ensure stern action against goons involved in disturbing peace and instigate caste violence.