Heavy police deployment continues in Odiyathur village near Gangavalli in Tamil Nadu's Salem district after a long-running dispute over an Ambedkar statue erupted into violence on Saturday, 12 July, following its sudden unveiling, leaving six people — including three police personnel — injured. More than 100 police personnel have been stationed in the area, with senior revenue and police officials closely monitoring the situation.

Background: A Statue Wrapped in Cloth for Five Years

The dispute traces its roots to 2020, when a group installed a seated statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at the Four Roads roundabout in Odiyathur panchayat. The statue depicts the architect of the Indian Constitution seated with one leg crossed over the other.

When attempts were made to formally inaugurate the statue in 2021, the then Tahsildar Venkatesan, along with revenue and police officials, intervened and directed that the statue remain covered until a mutually acceptable resolution was reached through official channels. The statue remained wrapped in cloth for nearly five years without a formal unveiling.

What Triggered the Violence

The issue resurfaced when the covering over the Ambedkar statue was unexpectedly removed on Saturday. One section of the community immediately demanded the statue be covered again until legal and administrative matters were resolved. A rival group opposed any further concealment, triggering a tense stand-off between the two factions.

Revenue authorities convened a peace meeting at the Attur Assistant Collector's office with representatives of both groups. Assistant Collector Tamilmani stated that the Ambedkar statue could be formally unveiled only after obtaining the necessary court permission. To maintain peace, he announced that three nearby statues — including those of K. Kamaraj and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi — would also be temporarily covered with the assistance of the Revenue Department.

Water Cannons Deployed as Clashes Break Out

Later on Saturday night, Assistant Collector Tamilmani and Salem Superintendent of Police Kuthalingam visited the site to oversee the temporary enclosure of the statues using metal sheets. As officials began work around 9 pm, fresh arguments erupted between police and members of a political group demanding that the Ambedkar statue remain uncovered.

Police deployed water cannons from a Fire and Rescue Services vehicle to disperse the crowd after the situation turned confrontational. During the clashes, three police personnel — including a woman police officer — and three women from one of the protesting groups sustained minor injuries. All six were admitted to Gangavalli Government Hospital for treatment.

Current Situation and What Comes Next

Rival groups clashed over the statue's status at the Four Roads roundabout, prompting authorities to maintain a strong security cordon across the village. According to officials, the statue's formal unveiling will require a court order before any further action can be taken.

This is not an isolated incident — disputes over public statues and their placement have repeatedly flared into communal tension across Tamil Nadu and other states, often drawing in caste, political identity, and administrative authority. The coming days will be critical as both groups await a legal resolution, and any misstep by authorities could reignite unrest in Odiyathur.