Ludhiana, October 30: Tension prevailed at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk in Ludhiana on Friday after another incident of alleged tampering with the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar came to light. The incident triggered anger among members of the Dalit community, who gathered at the spot and staged a protest by blocking the busy intersection.
According to the information, some unidentified individuals allegedly tampered with the statue of Dr. Ambedkar during the early hours of Friday. As news of the incident spread, members of the community reached Jalandhar Bypass Chowk and raised slogans against the Punjab government and district administration.
Advocate Narendra said that similar incidents involving the statue had been reported twice earlier at the same location. He expressed concern that arrests had not been made in those previous cases, adding that the latest incident, being the third such occurrence, had further increased resentment among community members.
The protesters demanded accountability from the authorities and questioned the lack of effective security arrangements despite repeated incidents at the same location. They said that failure to identify and take action against those responsible had raised serious concerns among the public.
The protest led to a traffic blockade at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk, affecting the movement of vehicles in the area. Commuters faced inconvenience as protesters continued to raise their demands against the administration.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that police had taken a woman into custody in connection with the incident. However, her alleged involvement has not yet been established, and the matter remains under investigation.
The police team from Salem Tabri Police Station is investigating the case and examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The latest episode has renewed demands for better protection of Dr. Ambedkar's statue and prompt action in cases involving alleged acts of disrespect.
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