Punjab Police arrest 1 over vandalisation of Udham Singh statue in Abohar

SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi along with the recovered hand of the statue. (Express)

Manjeet Singh Dhesi, SSP Fazilka, told The Indian Express, “After investigating the case thoroughly, we identified one Davinder Singh, a resident of street Number 7 of Panj Peer Nagar of Abohar town, and Jeji of street Number 9 in the same locality. Davinder has been arrested along with the right hand of the statue and the motorcycle on which he along with his friend Jeji had come to the statue location. Jeji is yet to be arrested”.

Dhesi said Singh and Jeji, who are in their early 20s, were under the influence of liquor when they stopped near the statue after attending a birthday party.

Damaged statue of Udham Singh with missing pistol at Abohar in Punjab. (Express)

“Davinder went up to the statue and started clicking selfies. Davinder said when he did not come down, his friend Jeji threw a stone at him. The stone hit the statue and the right hand along with the dummy pistol got detached. They took away the hand and pistol, and on Saturday morning, people saw the statue vandalised,” he said

He added there are no CCTV cameras around the statue but the routes leading to the area helped them nab one of the accused.

The police had lodged a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to theft, mischief and causing damage, and under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.