Row over Ambedkar statue in Vikarabad

HYDERABAD: An argument over erecting Ambedkar statue in Devnoor village under Yalal mandal in Vikarabad district resulted in tensions, resulting in a group of youngsters wearing ‘Mala’ attacking a youngster from Dalit community.

On Monday, when the argument broke up, a person identified as Narender, wearing a 'Mala' tried to intervene, but one of the villagers, M Naresh, belonging to Dalit community, allegedly pushed away Narender, asking him to leave the place, as he was wearing a mala.

On a complaint from Narender on Tuesday, a case was registered against Naresh at Yalal police station in the district and Naresh was summoned for explanation.

Meanwhile, Narender and a group of persons, all wearing mala, staged a protest in Yalal demanding immediate arrest of Naresh and a strict action against him, for allegedly insulting the ‘mala’ and those wearing ‘mala’.

They saw Naresh leaving the police station and pounced on him. They attacked him and rained fist blows on him, injuring him severely. Police rushed to his rescue, dispersing the crowd. He was then rushed to hospital.

On his complaint, police registered a case against Narender and others under charges of SC & ST act and other sections of the IPC and started an investigation.

Police said they are in the process of identifying those involved in the attack on Naresh. Subsequently, they will be caught, they added.

Meanwhile, SP Vikarabad N Koti Reddy reviewed the situation on Thursday and also directed additional force to be deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. He warned of strict legal action against those getting involved in communal activities and trying to provoke other communities and also urged people to refrain from such activities.