Ambedkar statue vandalised in Rohtak village, locals seek action

Rohtak: Tension prevailed in Khairdi village in the Kalanaur block of Rohtak district after some unknown miscreants vandalised the statue of B R Ambedkar.The locals met the superintendent of police, Gaurav Rajpurohit, and demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.Khairdi residents alleged that miscreants attempted to disturb communal harmony in the village and warned of continuing with their protest until the accused were apprehended.The incident took place around 10 pm on April 8 at Sadbhavana Sthal in the village, where statues of Dr B R Ambedkar and Sir Chhotu Ram have been installed as a symbol of unity.According to the villagers, unidentified elements damaged Ambedkar's statue, triggering outrage and protests.As the news of vandalism spread, residents gathered at the site and began demonstrating. The situation escalated, leading to tension between villagers and the police. A sit-in protest was launched, with some women warning that they would consume poison if the accused were not arrested.Pradeep Kumar, president of Guru Ravidas Sabha, said that although the police sought three days to identify and arrest those responsible, no arrests were made so far. "We approached the SP to demand swift action. Until the culprits are caught, our protest will continue," he said.SP Gaurav Rajpurohit told the villagers that four police teams had been deployed to track down the accused and that they would soon be arrested.Sonu, a zila parishad member, said the statue was installed by villagers as a symbol of communal harmony, alongside Sir Chhotu Ram's statue."Some anti-social elements are trying to disrupt the peaceful environment of the village, especially ahead of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14," Sonu said, adding that the incident also strained relations between the villagers and the administration.Meanwhile, the village panchayat has installed a new statue of Dr Ambedkar at the site. The new idol is scheduled to be unveiled on Ambedkar Jayanti.The SP has also assured that CCTV cameras would be installed at the location to prevent such incidents in the future and maintain harmony in the area.MSID:: 130237706 413 |