Tensions Erupt in Vibharapur Village In Sitapur District After Removal of Ambedkar and Buddha Statues from Government Land; Clash Leaves Several Injured, Police Maintain Tight Vigil
Tension gripped Vibharapur village in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh over the weekend following a violent confrontation between local villagers and law enforcement personnel.
The unrest erupted in response to the removal of statues of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar and Lord Gautam Buddha, which had been installed by residents on government-owned land.
According to officials from the local police department, the clash took place on Saturday and left several police personnel injured. The situation prompted law enforcement agencies to arrest multiple individuals and increase security measures in the area to prevent any further escalation.
As per details provided by senior police officials on Sunday, the conflict stemmed from a dispute surrounding the unauthorized installation of two statues—one of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a revered social reformer, and the other of Lord Buddha, the spiritual leader and founder of Buddhism.
These statues had been erected by villagers on March 11 in front of the Panchayat Bhawan—a local administrative building—on land classified as government property.
Following their installation, a complaint was filed with the local administration, leading the tehsil-level officials to serve a formal notice to the villagers on March 12.
The notice instructed them to remove the statues, citing the unauthorized occupation of government land and the potential for public order disturbances.
However, despite this official communication, the villagers chose not to comply with the order, and the statues remained in place for several days.
The issue resurfaced during a routine public grievance redressal event, known locally as Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas, held in the Maholi area on Saturday.
The event is designed to provide a platform for citizens to raise concerns and seek solutions from the district administration.
It was during this event that fresh instructions were reportedly issued to remove the statues, which reignited tensions in the region.
Acting swiftly on the latest directive, Maholi Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shashibind Dwivedi, accompanied by Circle Officer Vishal Gupta, led a joint team of administrative and police personnel to Vibharapur village. The operation was conducted under the jurisdiction of the Pisavan police station.
The team, which also included members of the revenue department, arrived with a bulldozer to facilitate the removal of the statues from the disputed site.
During the initial phase of the operation, villagers maintained a calm and non-confrontational demeanor. The statues were successfully taken down without any immediate resistance.
However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as the police and administrative officials began wrapping up the operation and preparing to leave the area.
Without warning, a group of villagers began hurling stones at the departing officials, catching the team off guard.
In the ensuing chaos, at least eight police personnel sustained injuries due to the sudden stone-pelting. Among the damaged property was a government vehicle belonging to Circle Officer Vishal Gupta, which was targeted during the attack.
The exact condition of the injured police officers was not immediately disclosed, but they were provided medical attention.
Speaking on the incident, Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Praveen Ranjan confirmed the timeline of events. “While the villagers remained calm during the removal operation, they suddenly began pelting stones as the officials were departing the area,” he said.
The police, in response, resorted to what authorities described as “mild force” to control and disperse the unruly crowd. According to Ranjan, some villagers may have also sustained minor injuries during the clash, though official figures were not provided.
In the aftermath of the incident, law enforcement officers conducted an investigation and detained several individuals believed to be directly involved in inciting or participating in the violence.
A total of five people were arrested, including two women, as per the official police statement.
Charges have been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for unlawful assembly, rioting, and assault on public servants.
The Additional Superintendent of Police further stated that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other individuals who were involved in the incident.
“We have launched a search operation to trace and arrest the remaining accused. No one involved in the disruption of public order will be spared,” he said.
To prevent the situation from spiraling into further unrest, especially given the religious and social sensitivities surrounding figures like Dr. Ambedkar and Lord Buddha, additional police forces have been deployed in and around Vibharapur village.
The area has been placed under heightened surveillance, and security checkpoints have been set up to monitor movements and maintain law and order.
As of now, police officials have reassured the public that the situation in Vibharapur is under control. “We have restored normalcy, and the current environment is peaceful.
Adequate force has been stationed in the village to ensure no further disturbances occur,” Praveen Ranjan affirmed.
The district administration has urged citizens to maintain peace and refrain from any activities that could provoke further unrest.
Meanwhile, the removal of the statues and the resulting clash have sparked conversations around land use rights, religious symbolism, and the administration’s handling of public sentiment in culturally sensitive areas.
