Tension in Bodhan over setting up of Shivaji statue

NIZAMABAD: Tension prevailed in Bodhan town of Nizamabad district for some time on Sunday as two groups clashed over the setting up of Chhatrapati Shivaji statue. A group of youth tried to put up the statue at Ambedkar Chowrasta in the town on Saturday midnight, but people from other faiths raised objections to this.

As a result, heated arguments led to clashes between the groups. They pelted stones at each other creating panic among the public. Police forces were heavily deployed in Bodhan, who resorted to lathi charge to quell mobs. The police also used tear gas to disperse the two groups.

As Sunday was market day in Bodhan, people from neighbouring mandals and Maharashtra state thronged the town for shopping. Due to the tense situation, vehicular traffic on Nizamabad-Bodhan-Narsi interstate road and Banswada road came to a standstill. The police clamped Section 144 in the town.

It may be mentioned here that it was following a resolution in Bodhan municipal council, activists of the BJP and the Shiv Sena installed the Shivaji statue. Reportedly, youths from other faiths demanded to set up the Tipu Sultan statue at Ambedkar Chowrasta.

Speaking to reporters, Nizamabad commissioner of police K.R. Nagaraju said after official permission from the authorities, Chhatrapati Shivaji statue could be installed in Bodhan. There was an official procedure in this regard, but a few persons in hurry set up the statue resulting in tension, he said. “The situation is under control and the police forces have been deployed at various places,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind said officials should protect the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji. “How dared they propose to set up the Tipu Sultan statue in Bodhan?” he questioned. “Tipu Sultan is an outsider and he targeted Hindus,” he said. The BJP MP alleged that the Nizamabad police commissioner was working in favour of the TRS not the Constitution. Nagaraju might have political interests, but he should work as per the norms, he suggested. MP wrote a letter to district collector C. Narayana Reddy on Sunday requesting permission for setting up of the Shivaji statue in Bodhan.

BJP state president and MP Bandi Sanjay condemned the stone pelting in Bodhan. The police resorted to lathi charge on Hanuman devotees, he alleged.

Speaking to reporters at the BJP state office in Hyderabad on Sunday, Sanjay alleged that a few IPS officers were working in favour of the ruling TRS. Shivaji statue was installed in Bodhan after the municipality accorded permission, but a few persons raised objections, he said.