Defacing of Ambedkar statue triggers tension in Karaikudi

Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, Jan 26: Tension prevailed in the town following the desecration of a statue of B R Ambedkar by some miscreants early today.

Police sources said some people found the hand of Dr Ambedkar's life-size cement statue near the Municipal Travellers Bungalow broken. As news spread, activists of various Dalit organisations assembled before the statue and raised slogans demanding the immediate arrest of culprits. They resorted to flash roadroko stir on the 100-feet road near Periyar statue disrupting movement of vehicular traffic.

A large posse of policemen rushed to the spot to defuse the tension. After top revenue officials and Superintendent of Police Kannan pacified the agitators that action would be taken to arrest the culprits, they called off their protest, police said.

Later, they took out a procession from the Ambedkar Statue to the Old Bus stand to condemn the desecration of statue.

A special police team was formed to nab the offenders, police added.

UNI