Congress leader among 4 arrested for defacing Ambedkar bust in Kalaburagi

KALABURAGI: Four people have been arrested for defacing a bust of Dr B R Ambedkar at Kotanur Layout on Monday night. The arrested are Kiran, Hanamath, Manu and Congress leader Sangappa aka Sangamesh.

Sangamesh is a Congress leader Gulbarga South Assembly constituency. His arrest in the case has led to suspicions whether the Congress itself had planned to stoke tensions. The arrested were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Kannika Sikriwal garlanded the bust to pacify the angry Dalits.

On Monday night, the Ambedkar statue at Kotanur Layout was found with a garland of footwear, leading to Dalit groups staging protest and blocking the road at SVP Circle. They also pelted stones at a petrol bunk and forced commercial establishments to down their shutters.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Kannika Sikriwal later placed a garland on the bus to placate the protesters.