Uproar after Ambedkar statue defaced in Rajpura

Tribune News Service

Patiala, September 15

A statue of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar was vandalised by some miscreants in Rajpura on Saturday night. The incident led to an outrage among members of the Valmiki community who demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants.

Residents said the miscreants vandalised the statue at the ITI Chowk in Rajpura on Saturday night. Members of the Valmiki community alleged that the act was done in a planned manner as some miscreants had stolen the digital video recorder (DVR) of the CCTV cameras installed at the site two days ago.

A resident said the incident came to light on Sunday morning. “We came to know about it at 6 am. Officials of the administration and police reached the spot after people started gathering at the spot,” said Rajinder Kumar Tinku.

Jatinder Singh Mattu, state president, Dr Ambedkar Employees’ Federation, Punjab, said, “Two days ago, the DVR of the CCTV cameras installed at the chowk was stolen. Now the statue has been vandalised. This has been done in a planned way. It is a direct attack on the community. Therefore, we will launch a protest against the administration if they fail to nab the accused at the earliest.”

He said the police should register an FIR against the accused under various sections of the SC/ST Act.

Rajpura SDM Rajnish Arora said, “some miscreants damaged the statue by throwing stones and bricks at it. We held a meeting with members of the Valmiki community and have decided to get a new statue installed at the earliest. The police have also launched investigation to nab the vandals and are trying to identify them with the help of CCTV cameras nearby.”

He said MLA Hardial Singh Kamboj present during the meeting had proposed to get the statue installed from his salary. “A three-layer life-size statue will be installed within 10 days,” the SDM said.