UP: Akhilesh repairs beheaded Mayawati's statue overnight

Lucknow, Jul 27:

Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader, Akhilesh Yadav did not waste any time to take action against those who vandalised

's statue. The CM issued prompt order and the statue has been repaired overnight.

The exact replica of the damaged statue, which was originally meant for the Kashi Ram garden, but wasn't set up following an order by Supreme Court, has been installed at Gomtinagar park.

Three persons have been arrested in the case so far. The marble statue on Thursday, Jul 26 was vandalised by miscreants believed to be part of the UP Navnirman Sena. The role of the group was confirmed after pamphlets belonging to the group were found in the site. The group had claimed that they would destroy Mayawati's statue on Mar 15, 2012 as per the pamphlet.

A high alert was issued foreseeing violent protests by BSP supporters in the wake of the statue being vandalised. However, the shocking incident triggered off violence in Mathura as an infuriated mob on Jul 26 damaged several vehicles plying on Mathura-Aligarh road and set ablaze two tankers and a state roadways bus in the Laxmi Nagar area.

Prior to the agitation on the Mathura-Aligarh road, the protesters forced the shopkeepers of the area to observe a shut down in the market areas.

"Teargas shells and rubber bullets had to be used to disperse the mob which went on a rampage and set two tankers and a roadways bus ablaze," Chief Development Officer N K Paliwal, who is holding the charge of District Magistrate on Jul 26, said.

Efforts are being made to control the situation, he said. Violence broke out in Laxmi Nagar area under Jamuna Paar police station on Mathura-Aligarh road, and despite the repeated warning by the police the protesters refused to withdraw the agitation, Paliwal said.

Annoyed locals blocked the traffic movement on the important Mathura-Aligarh route, which was later cleared on the assurances given by senior police officials.

"The fire department team is making best possible efforts to douse the fire at the earliest," he added.

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)