Punjab Newsline | Ludhiana
The protective glass cover surrounding the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk in Ludhiana was vandalised once again on Friday morning, triggering anger among local residents.
Police reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and examined CCTV footage from cameras installed around the chowk. The footage reportedly showed a woman throwing a stone at the glass cover of the statue, damaging it.
Following the identification of the woman in the footage, police took her into custody and initiated questioning. Investigators are trying to ascertain why she damaged the glass and whether anyone else was involved in the incident.
The incident took place at the main chowk on Jalandhar Bypass, which falls under the jurisdiction of Salem Tabri police station. As news of the vandalism spread, local residents gathered at the spot and expressed their anger.
Notably, a similar controversy involving the statue had erupted around four months ago. Following that incident, CCTV cameras were installed at the site as a precautionary measure. At the time, members of various communities had staged protests and blocked roads in several cities.
Chaudhary Yashpal, president of the Valmiki community, also reached the spot after learning about the incident. He condemned the vandalism and demanded a thorough investigation by the administration.
Calling the incident highly condemnable, Yashpal said that if any miscreant had deliberately damaged the glass cover to disturb communal harmony, strict action should be taken against those responsible.
Police are continuing their investigation to establish the motive behind the incident.
