Tension erupted at village Jiyapota under Laksar tehsil on Monday following attempts to vandalise a statue of B R Ambedkar. The angry people hit the roads, protesting against the attempts to vandalise the statue of the leader. Tension mounting with people gathering in a large number, the police from Laksar rushed to the place and brought the situation under control. Later, the people were mollified after the damaged statue was replaced with a new one by the police.  

Earlier, in the morning, the people from the Dalit community gathered at Jiyapota village and protested. The police were informed of some miscreants having damaged the statue of the Dalit icon on late Sunday night.

A police team reached the village and defused tension by assuring to replace the statue. 

On receiving the report of the tension mounting in the village, a team led by SP rural Manikant Mishra and SDM Laksar Kaustub Mishra rushed. Though the situation was brought under control by the afternoon some personnel would remain deputed there during the night, said a police officer. 

Speaking to The Pioneer on the matter, SP city Mamta Vohra said that they had acted promptly on receiving information. “We received the report of the vandalism attempt on the statue about 9 am. In half an hour, a team reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The police talked to the agitated villagers. They said that they were for the statue to be replaced. A new statue was thus installed there,” she added.