Ludhiana: Tension prevailed at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk in Ludhiana after unidentified miscreants allegedly placed a garland of shoes around a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar. The incident reportedly took place on September 5.
The incident triggered anger among members of the SC and Valmiki communities, who gathered at the spot and staged a protest. Protesters said the alleged act of disrespect towards Ambedkar was unacceptable and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
The demonstration disrupted traffic at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk, with vehicles queuing up on both sides and traffic towards Jalandhar coming to a standstill for some time. An AAP MLA who reached the spot also faced opposition from protesters, who raised slogans against the state government. The protest was later called off late at night.
ADCP-1 Sameer Verma said police had taken note of the incident and assured that whoever was responsible would be arrested.
DCP Alam Baba said police had received a complaint regarding the alleged desecration of the Ambedkar statue and were registering an FIR. Police teams had been deployed to trace the accused, while CCTV footage from cameras installed under the Smart City project was also being examined.
Meanwhile, the incident also sparked a political reaction in neighbouring Jalandhar. BJP leaders, led by district president Ashok Sareen Hicky, along with former minister Manoranjan Kalia and former MLA Sheetal Angural, reached the Ambedkar statue at Nakodar Chowk and raised slogans against the state government.
The BJP leaders alleged that the law-and-order situation in the state had deteriorated and questioned the government over security arrangements.
