Mumbai: Cops pick up two on suspicion of vandalising Babasaheb Ambedkar residence

MUMBAI: The police detained two suspects on Wednesday for damaging flowerpots and breaking the windowpanes of Rajgruha, the home and memorial of Babasaheb Ambedkar at Hindu Colony in Dadar on Tuesday.
The state cabinet approved 24-hour police protection to the heritage bungalow, which also houses a museum.
The chief suspect, who was not identified, was detained based on CCTV footage.
The motive behind the vandalism remains unclear.
Ambedkar's grandson Bhimrao informed the police that the culprit was seen moving around the bungalow on Monday and when he was called out for wandering, he left but returned on Tuesday.
The police had registered an FIR against an unknown person under Section 427 and Section 447 of the IPC for mischief causing damage to the amount of Rs 50 or more and for criminal trespass.
"We have detained two suspects. One of them has almost admitted to the crime and we are corroborating his statement," DCP (zone 4) Saurabh Tripathi said.
The incident drew condemnation across the political spectrum. CM Uddhav Thackeray termed it "shocking" and urged the police to take stern action against the vandals. "(Babasaheb) Ambedkar preserved all his writings here. This is like a pilgrimage centre for people of Maharashtra," he said.
Minister for school education Varsha Gaikwad, Congress politician Eknath Gaikwad, BJP city unit president Mangal Prabhat Lodha, former minister Ashish Shelar, MPs Rahul Shewale of the Shiv Sena, Gopal Shetty of the the BJP and others visited Rajgruha and met Ambedkar's grandsons Bhimrao and Anandraj. Dalit leader Prakash, another grandson, is in Akola and has appealed for calm.
Leader of the opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Congress state unit president Balasaheb Thorat demanded that the police immediately arrest the miscreants.