Miscreants Vandalise BR Ambedkar's And Lord Buddha's Statues In Hardoi; Police Deny Incident

Tensions flared up in Surjipur village in the Behta Gokul area of Hardoi district following allegations that statues of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Lord Buddha were vandalised by miscreants.

One faction in the village has accused local strongmen of damaging the statues with bricks and stones, escalating an ongoing dispute between two community groups. Following the incident, the atmosphere in the village has become tense, with locals claiming the act was intended to incite caste-based conflict.

Upon receiving information about the incident, the administration deployed a heavy police force in the village as a security measure. However, villagers have accused the police of failing to take concrete action in what they consider a serious matter.

Villagers have informed Karan Pasi, the district president of Bhim Army, about the incident. The Bhim Army has warned that if strict action is not taken against the culprits, they will launch a protest movement. Villagers are demanding immediate repair of the statues and arrest of those responsible.

Meanwhile, police have issued a statement regarding the case. Additional Police Officer Martand Prakash Singh said that while one group has alleged vandalism of Buddha's statue, an inspection by senior officials revealed these accusations to be completely false.

According to police, photographic evidence shows that the Buddha statue was already damaged before the alleged incident.

"We have received complaints regarding the dispute between the two groups and are proceeding with legal action. Police forces remain present at the scene, and necessary legal procedures are underway," Singh added.