In a disturbing incident on Saturday, a group of individuals resorted to stone pelting, leaving two police personnel injured, when law enforcement officials attempted to remove a statue of B R Ambedkar. The statue had reportedly been illegally installed overnight, prompting the police to take action. The incident took place in the Bhadohi police station area, and authorities had to employ “minor force” to disperse the violent crowd.
A swift response from the police resulted in the arrest of 11 people, including three women, who were directly involved in the stone pelting. Moreover, a case has been registered against a total of 51 individuals, with 21 of them being named, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections include charges of obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties, assaulting or using criminal force against public servants, voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants, endangering the lives or safety of others, and intentionally provoking breach of peace.
According to Circle Officer Bhubaneshwar Kumar Pandey, the Ambedkar statue had been installed on a platform during the previous night on land that was designated for a pond in the Mushilatpur village within the Kotwali area of the city. After receiving a complaint, senior police and administrative officials arrived at the site and requested the locals to remove the statue. However, they faced resistance from the community, leading to the escalation of tensions.
As officials attempted to remove the statue, the crowd responded with stone pelting, leaving the police with no choice but to employ lathi-charge (the use of batons) to disperse the protesters. The injured police personnel were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. In response to the volatile situation, additional police forces were deployed to the area to restore and maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, the Ambedkar statue, which has become the center of controversy, has been kept at the local police station. Efforts are underway to apprehend the other individuals involved in the incident and bring them to justice.
This incident has caused tension in the region, and authorities are working diligently to ensure the situation remains under control. The clash over the removal of the allegedly illegal statue highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement officials in maintaining public order and upholding the law. The incident also underscores the importance of peaceful resolution and dialogue to address grievances and disputes within communities.
