Protesters took to the streets, burning tyres, and demanding swift action against the miscreants. Shops and establishments in some areas of the city were forcefully closed.
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Four persons have been arrested on the charge of desecrating a statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in Kalaburagi city of Karnataka state.
Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara stated on Wednesday that investigation is on to ascertain why the accused indulged in vandalising the statue. “I have given directions to ascertain the reason behind the act. There will be a motivation in any such incident. The probe is on at this angle,” media reports quoted him as saying in Bengaluru.
Commenting on BJP taking to protest in Kalaburagi condemning the incident, he stated, the BJP will go mute once the role of persons behind the act comes out. “We can’t reveal everything even though we have information. The evidence needs to be gathered and we can’t surmise. The investigation will have to be done to ascertain who had planned the act, why have they done it,” he said.
Parameshwara’s comments came as protesters in Kalaburagi took to the streets, burning tyres, and demanding swift action against the miscreants. Shops and establishments in some areas of the city were forcefully closed. The unrest resulted in stone-pelting, vandalism of a petrol bunk and damage to several vehicles.
Various areas showed signs of tension after some unidentified individuals placed a footwear garland around the statue of Dr. Ambedkar in Kotnoor village on the outskirts of Kalaburagi on Monday night.
It led to widespread protests by Dalit organisations.
In a bid to diffuse tension, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanika Sikriwal paid floral tributes to the Ambedkar statue.
Earlier, expressing concern over the increasing attacks on notable figures in the state, BJP state general secretary P. Rajeev called for decisive action against the culprits.
“Whoever the accused are must face justice. The police must have taken precautions to prevent such an incident. The attacks on noted personalities have increased in the state. The Law and Order situation in the state is deteriorating. The home minister must answer this,” Rajeev was quoted as saying.
In another incident during a Hindu procession in Wadi of Kalaburagi district on Monday, a quarrel between two groups led to the vandalisation of a hotel. Prohibitory orders under the CrPC section of the IPC have been imposed until 6 am on January 25 in Wadi to maintain law and order.
