Prohibitory orders imposed in Maharashtra town after protests over vandalism of Constitution replica

Prohibitory orders were imposed in Maharashtra’s Parbhani on Wednesday after violence erupted during a protest against the alleged vandalism of a replica of the Indian Constitution, reported PTI.

The police have so far detained nearly 50 persons in connection with the violence, according to The Indian Express.

On Tuesday, a glass-encased cement replica of the Constitution installed near a statue of BR Ambedkar outside the Parbhani railway station was found to have been damaged.

Ambedkar was one of the architects of the Constitution and a leading figure in the movement for Dalit empowerment.

Residents of the area have accused a man identified as Sopan Pawar of damaging the replica, Inspector General Shahaji Umap was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. Pawar was beaten by residents and handed over to the police on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Ambedkarite activists called for a bandh to protest the alleged vandalism.

According to the police, nearly 400 protestors, led by Republican Sena Vice President Vijay Wakode, had arrived at the collector’s office to submit a memorandum demanding the “death penalty for the accused”, reported The Indian Express.

The situation turned violent around 1 pm, when protestors started throwing stones. They also vandalised the office of the district collector and damaged two four-wheelers and nearly 16 two-wheelers.

The police fired teargas shells to disperse the crowd as the...

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