Five held for damaging statue of Sant Ravidas in UP's Ballia

Ballia (UP), Oct 5 (PTI) Five persons have been arrested for allegedly damaging a statue of Sant Ravidas in Ballia district, officials said on Monday.

The incident took place late Saturday night in Kumhiya village where residents had installed the statue at a Sant Ravidas temple, police said.

Sukhpura Station House Officer (SHO) Ratnesh Dubey said police reached the spot and got the broken hand of the statue repaired.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by a villager on Sunday, police registered a case against seven persons under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, he said.

Of the seven, five persons have been arrested. They have been identified as Mohan, Rakesh, Umesh, Shambhu and Ashok, Dubey said.

Police are searching for the two other named accused, Lal Bahadur and Vakil, he added.

The SHO said adequate measures have been taken to maintain law and order.