http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/060601/detCIT16.asp

HTC, Ghaziabad

TENSION prevails in Vijay Nagar following "damage" to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar's statue in Mata Colony under Vijaynagar police station. Reports, however, indicate that a harmless prank by a group of drinkers may have led to the fracas.

Angry residents blocked traffic for more than two hours in the morning, alleging that some miscreants had damaged one of the hands of the statue, removed the spectacles and covered it with rags.

Thereafter, the district administration swung into action. Vijay Nagar police have arrested one Dharampal, a Dalit who hails from Fatehpur district and is staying here at present.

The Vijaynagar police claimed that a few persons plied Dharampal with drinks. When he was totally inebriated, they took off his clothes. Dharampal lay asleep near the Ambedkar statue the whole night.

When he woke up in the morning, he found that his clothes were draped on the statue. As he tried to pull the clothes down, the left hand of the statue broke.

BSP and Congress have condemned the incident.