Ballia,

20 May (HS): A statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar was reportedly vandalized by

miscreants at Ambedkar colony on the Garwar-Piyaria road, near the Garwar

police station, police said on Wednesday. According to authorities, the crime

occurred on Tuesday night, when some unidentified individuals reportedly damaged

a finger on the statue's right hand and one of its feet. On Wednesday morning,

villagers saw the broken monument and notified the police. A massive crowd of

people, as well as politicians from several political parties, assembled at the

spot.

Station

House Officer Hitesh Kumar stated that a new statue has been put at the

location, and that personnel have been assigned as a preventive measure. He

did, however, say that the situation was quiet and under control. According to

the officer, a case has been filed against unnamed people under Section 298

(injuring or defiling a place of worship with the aim to insult the religion of

any class) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in response to a complaint from a

local, Bhim Kumar. He stated that the police are pursuing the proper legal

steps in this case.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi