Tension grips Lucknow Village After Attempt to Remove Ambedkar Statue Sparks Clashes

LUCKNOW: A tense situation unfolded on Saturday in Mawai Khatri village, located on the outskirts of Lucknow, after police attempted to remove a statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar that had been installed on government land allegedly without official permission.

The move triggered a large-scale protest from residents, resulting in a clash between villagers and law enforcement.

According to the police, the statue was erected by a group of villagers on Friday without prior approval or clearance from the district administration — a requirement for placing any permanent structure on public land.

As soon as the authorities were alerted about the unauthorized installation, a police team was dispatched to the site on Saturday to oversee the statue’s removal.

However, news of the police presence spread rapidly through the village, prompting hundreds of residents to gather at the spot in protest.

The crowd, largely consisting of locals who were angered by what they described as an “attack on their sentiments and dignity,” demanded that the statue remain where it was.

Eyewitnesses reported that villagers raised slogans in support of Dr Ambedkar and against the police action. Many claimed that the statue was installed as a tribute to Ambedkar’s legacy and to mark his birth anniversary, which falls on April 14.

They alleged that the administration’s decision to dismantle the statue on the eve of this significant day was both disrespectful and insensitive to the sentiments of Dalits and Ambedkar’s followers.

The protest, which initially remained peaceful, took a violent turn when a section of the crowd reportedly began pelting stones at the police team.

Faced with the sudden escalation, law enforcement personnel were forced to retaliate by using what they described as “mild force,” including the firing of tear gas shells, to disperse the crowd.

Three policemen sustained injuries during the clash, according to a senior officer at the scene.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Jitendra Kumar Dubey later confirmed that the situation had been brought under control and that police remained on high alert in the village.

As of Saturday evening, no First Information Report (FIR) had been registered in connection with the incident, though the police are expected to review CCTV footage and other evidence to identify the individuals involved in stone-pelting.

“Efforts were made to pacify the villagers and explain that installing any statue on government-owned land requires proper clearance and permission from the administration,” Dubey said, adding that the statue had been temporarily covered with a cloth and that police were stationed in the area to maintain law and order.

Sources familiar with the developments revealed that the decision to install the statue was taken during a meeting of village elders earlier in the week.

The statue was reportedly installed overnight, and locals claim they had intended to organize a formal unveiling on Ambedkar Jayanti.

The district administration, however, maintained that no such proposal had been submitted for approval, and as such, the installation was deemed unauthorized.

In light of the confrontation, the local administration deployed a large contingent of police personnel to prevent any further escalation.

Officers from 12 nearby police stations, along with units from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), were brought in to secure the area and monitor the situation.

The clash also prompted the intervention of local political leaders. MLA Yogesh Shukla visited the village later in the day to meet with the protesting residents and urge them to maintain peace.

He assured them that their concerns would be communicated to the district administration and that efforts would be made to find an amicable resolution.

For now, the statue remains at the site under police protection, its fate uncertain as both the villagers and local authorities remain at odds over the matter.