Locals protest over desecration of Ambedkar’s statue in Saran

CHHAPRA: Tension gripped Daudpur in Saran district on Tuesday after a statue of Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar installed at Daudpur Bazaar near NH-85 was found damaged on Wednesday morning.
Soon, villagers who found the Dalit icon’s statue damaged spread the news. Locals marched from neighbouring areas and by the time police reached, hundreds of people gathered on the street raising slogans against the police and the district administration.Demanding action against those responsible for the criminal act and immediate repair of the statue, protesters also blocked the Chhapra-Siwan highway for several hours.
On getting information, Manjhi BDO M B Verma also rushed to the spot and pacified the agitated crowd.
Locals claimed that some miscreants had damaged the right hand of the Amdedkar statue. Saran SP Har Kishore Rai said steps have been initiated to identify the miscreants and lodge FIR against them.
Maharajganj MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal said, “This was done to disrupt social harmony. Such an action needs to be condemned by one and all.”
Incidentally, this was the fourth incident in recent months in which Ambedkar’s statue was damaged. Earlier, anti-reservation protesters damaged and tried to uproot a lifesize statue of Dr Ambedkar in Sheikhpura district during the nationwide bandh called against quota on April 10.
In Nawada too, a statue of Ambedkar was found partially damaged hours before the quota stir began the same day. Later, another statue of Ambedkar was found damaged at Nauvagadhi village under Naya Ramnagar police station area in Munger district on April 23.