A young man tried to vandalise the statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar during the Republic Day celebrations in Amritsar on Sunday, January 26. The incident occurred on Heritage Street, near the Golden Temple, where the young man climbed a ladder placed for garlanding the statue and struck it with a hammer. In just 24 seconds, he hit the statue eight times, causing damage. He also attempted to harm a nearby statue of the Constitution before being stopped by the crowd. Public reaction and arrest People caught the young man, beat him up and informed the police. The incident occurred on Heritage Street, about 150 meters from the police station. The accused has been identified as Prakash, a resident of Dharmkot, Amritsar. He also belongs to the Dalit community. On Sunday night, apart from Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa, Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, and MLA Jeevanjot Kaur reached the spot. Dhaliwal said that he has spoken to the Police Commissioner. The matter will be thoroughly investigated. Meanwhile, Pawan Dravid, Chairman of the Maha Snan Management Committee located at Shri Ram, has called for a shutdown in Amritsar on Monday, January 27. He said that the incident has caused outrage throughout the Dalit community. The people have shut down Bhandari Bridge. Shopkeepers have also protested the incident by keeping the Wall City Market closed. But, schools and colleges remain open. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said – No one will be forgiven for this incident. The accused will be given the strictest punishment. No one will be allowed to break the brotherhood and unity of Punjab. I have directed the administration to investigate this matter and take strict action against the culprits. Young man climbed to the top using ladder The young man first set fire to the stone-made book of the Constitution beneath the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Then, using a ladder for support, he climbed onto the shoulders of the statue. Once atop, he forcefully struck the statue’s peak eight times with a large hammer. The commotion on Heritage Street quickly grew as onlookers saw the young man’s actions. When people called for him to come down, he initially argued with them but eventually relented. He dropped the hammer from the statue’s height. Caught by security guards As the young man descended, two security guards apprehended him. He attempted to break free but was unsuccessful. When the guards began escorting him to the police station, a crowd began to follow. Suddenly, an unknown person from the crowd slapped the young man. Angered by the slap, the young man protested, saying, "Don't hit me." The guards then led him away from the crowd and took him to the police station. Ladder was placed for cleaning According to the police, the ladder had been placed earlier in the morning by the fire brigade to clean the statue. Following the cleaning, a garlanding ceremony had also taken place. Police investigation underway AIG Jagjit Singh confirmed that the accused had been arrested and a case had been filed. Investigations are underway to determine the motive behind his attempt to damage the statue. Authorities respond to the incident Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemned the act of vandalism, calling it an attack on the Constitution and the values of equality. He assured that the Punjab government would take strict action against the accused. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa strongly condemned the incident, stressing that it shamed India globally. He called for an investigation by a sitting judge and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, citing the deterioration of law and order in the state. BJP leader Vijay Sampla also condemned the disrespect shown to Dr. Ambedkar’s statue, especially in the corridor of Harmandir Sahib. He called for strict action against those responsible and for clarification from the SGPC and the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, as the incident occurred near Darbar Sahib. Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema of Shiromani Akali Dal expressed his shame over the incident, stating it had hurt the sentiments of millions of Indians worldwide. He questioned how such an act could occur in the city’s busiest area, especially with heightened security during Republic Day. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla condemned the disrespect toward the statue of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and demanded strict action against the perpetrator. He reminded the public of Ambedkar’s monumental contributions to society, noting that such actions reflected a profound lack of understanding.Original Article