What Happened to Dr Ambedkar's Statue in MP’s Dhar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar was stolen in Madhya Pradesh.
- Local communities are outraged, leading to protests.
- CCTV footage is being analyzed to identify the perpetrators.
- The police have taken action by filing a case against unknown individuals.
- Incidents like this highlight ongoing tensions regarding Dr Ambedkar's legacy.
Indore, May 8 (NationPress) In a disturbing turn of events, unknown individuals reportedly dismantled a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, as confirmed by local authorities on Thursday.
Initial reports indicate that the statue, situated in a village along the Indore-Ahmedabad National Highway, was removed on Wednesday evening.
This unfortunate act was allegedly recorded by CCTV cameras located in a nearby structure.
In an attempt to alleviate tensions in the community, members of the local gram panchayat quickly erected a replacement statue, yet it too was taken down within hours.
Frustrated by these recurring events, members of the Bhim Army organized a protest, voicing their support for Babasaheb Ambedkar and demanding stringent measures against those responsible for the statue's removal.
Jagdish Davar, a member of the Bhim Army, accused the perpetrators of orchestrating a malicious plot to disrespect Dr Ambedkar and offend his followers.
As news of the protest circulated, a large crowd gathered at the location on Thursday. Local police and district officials were dispatched to manage the situation.
Sunil Sharma, the officer in charge of the local police station, reported that a new statue was once again installed with the presence of gram panchayat representatives, and order has now been restored.
Sharma stated that a case has been lodged against unknown individuals and urged the public to maintain peace.
“We are reviewing the CCTV footage to determine the identity of the individuals who removed the statue. Decisive actions will be taken once they are apprehended,” Sharma added.
Such incidents have been increasingly prevalent in Madhya Pradesh. Just last month, a man vandalized a statue of Dr Ambedkar in Sidhi district by painting over it.
On March 13, a statue of Dr Ambedkar was stolen from Bari village in the Gadhimalhara region of Chhatarpur district.