Hoshiarpur, Punjab: A statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was allegedly vandalised by unidentified persons in Badiyan Kalan village under the Chabbewal Assembly constituency of Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, late at night, triggering protests by local residents and Scheduled Caste organisations.
According to reports, the miscreants allegedly attacked the statue with bricks, damaging its finger, ear and spectacles. As news of the incident spread, SC leaders and a large number of local residents reached the spot and staged a protest, demanding strict action against those responsible.
The Chabbewal police have registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the incident. Police teams are examining CCTV footage from the area and nearby locations to identify the accused.
DSP Bharat Bhushan Saini said that the accused would be identified on the basis of CCTV footage and arrested at the earliest. Police officials said that an alleged video of the incident has also surfaced on social media and is being examined as part of the investigation.
The video purportedly contains a claim of responsibility by Khalistani extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is associated with the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Police are examining the authenticity and circumstances surrounding the video as part of the investigation.
The incident comes amid reports of similar cases involving Ambedkar statues in Hoshiarpur district. In March 2026, an alleged desecration of a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was reported in Noorpur Jattan village under Mahilpur police station. A similar incident had also been reported in the area in June 2025.
Meanwhile, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Punjab president and former Rajya Sabha member Dr Avtar Singh Karimpuri visited Badiyan Kalan and the site of the incident and condemned the alleged vandalism.
Karimpuri announced that the BSP would hold a protest in Hoshiarpur on September 18, demanding action from the government and administration against those responsible for the incident.
The latest incident follows a similar case reported in Ludhiana on September 9, when a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was also desecrated.
