3 days after installation, Udham Singh statue vandalised in Punjab’s Abohar

The statue of martyr Udham Singh in Abohar in Punjab’s Fazilka district was damaged and the pistol in its hand has gone missing. The statue was unveiled by 2 ministers on December 26.

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

A statue of martyr Udham Singh has been vandalised three days after it was unveiled in Abohar in Punjab’s Fazilka district. The statue was damaged and the pistol in its hand has gone missing, the police said, adding that an FIR has been lodged against unknown persons.

The incident took place on the intervening night of December 29 and December 30.

The statue was unveiled at Abha Square in Abohar on December 26, Udham Singh’s birthday, by state cabinet ministers Baljit Kaur and Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs from Fazilka district and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.

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The statue of Udham Singh when it was unveiled on December 26. (Express)

“On Saturday morning, when we saw the statue, it was damaged and the pistol was missing. This is really sad…how can someone damage a martyr’s statue?” asked Arun Narang, AAP’s constituency in-charge from Abohar.

“There was no CCTV around the statue but the routes leading to this area have CCTV cameras. Some mischief-mongers seem to be behind this incident…we have got some important inputs and we will nab these culprits soon,” Fazilka Senior Superintendent of Police Manjeet Singh Dhesi told The Indian Express.

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

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