Bareilly: At least 19 people were arrested after violent clashes broke out on Ambedkar Jayanti over the installation of B R Ambedkar’s statue in Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in Motipur village in the Bankeganj area on Monday when two groups clashed after one of them allegedly installed the statue on vacant land without permission.Police have registered two cases in the matter. An officer said, “The statue was damaged after two groups from the same community clashed with each other. After this, one group resorted to vandalism and arson. The vehicles of govt officers, including that of a naib tehsildar, were set on fire, and at least nine vehicles, including those of circle officers, were damaged with stones and sticks.”The situation remained tense for nearly five hours before security forces brought it under control. ASP Amit Kumar Rai said, “Eight named accused, including the village head or gram pradhan, and around 200 unidentified people were booked based on video evidence and a complaint filed by Chanda Devi.”In her written complaint, Devi said, “I only opposed the installation as it was being done without approval. The attackers chased me, beat me brutally, tore my clothes, and even poured petrol on me in an attempt to burn me alive, after which I lost consciousness.”
