An idol of Dr B.R. Ambedkar installed on the rooftop of a building in Noorpur Jattan village in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district was vandalised by unidentified individuals on Tuesday (March 31), police said.
According to officials, the statue was damaged using a rod-like object despite being enclosed within a protective glass casing.
Video Claim Emerges, Authenticity Under Check
A video circulating on social media purportedly shows Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a pro-Khalistan leader linked to the banned organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), claiming responsibility for the act.
Authorities, however, said the authenticity of the video is being verified. Deputy Superintendent of Police Daljit Singh Khakh of Garhshankar confirmed that a case has been registered against unknown persons in connection with the incident, reported PTI.
No CCTV at Spot, Police Scan Nearby Footage
Police said there were no CCTV cameras installed at the site. Teams are now examining footage from nearby areas in an attempt to identify those involved.
Officials added that this is not the first such incident. The same statue was reportedly vandalised in June last year, following which an FIR was registered.
Political Reactions, Protest Demands
Leaders across parties condemned the incident, calling for swift action against the perpetrators.
Bahujan Samaj Party’s Punjab unit chief Avtar Singh Karimpuri visited the site along with party workers and staged a protest. He demanded that those responsible be arrested within 72 hours and announced a public gathering in the village on April 18 to raise concerns over the safety of Ambedkar statues.
Karimpuri also criticised both the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government and the BJP-led Centre, alleging failure to ensure the protection of Ambedkar memorials. He claimed the incident was part of a broader pattern, calling it the ninth such case in the region, and alleged it could be an attempt to disturb social harmony and marginalise the Dalit community.
Calls for Vigilance Amid Rising Concerns
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar also condemned the vandalism and urged the state government to take immediate action. He appealed to residents to remain alert against divisive forces, alleging that some foreign-based groups were attempting to disrupt peace in the state.
Jakhar further criticised the state government’s handling of law and order, urging Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to focus on governance in Punjab.
Former Union minister Som Parkash also denounced the incident, saying it had hurt the sentiments of the public, particularly those of the Dalit community.