A 35-year-old man, suspected of being mentally unstable, allegedly attempted to desecrate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi located at the Pune railway station in Maharashtra, according to police reports on Monday.
Arrest and Background
As per NDTV news portal, the incident occurred late Sunday night, when local residents apprehended the man and handed him over to the police, who subsequently arrested him. The accused, identified as Suraj Shukla from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was found with religious books in his bag and a billhook in his hand while trying to damage the statue.
Details of the Attempt
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2), Milind Mohite, stated, “The man appeared mentally unstable and was attempting to desecrate the statue using the sharp tool. Fortunately, he was caught by bystanders before he could cause significant harm.” Although the statue itself was not damaged, a small tile on the pedestal was reported to be broken when he climbed onto it. It was noted that Shukla resides in the Vishrantwadi area of Pune and sells rudraksh (holy beads). He had purchased the billhook from Wai in the Satara district.
Legal Action
The police confirmed that Shukla has been arrested and a case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. An investigation is ongoing.
Community Response
In response to the incident, local Congress workers staged a protest near the statue on Monday, demanding strict action against the accused. Congress city unit president Arvind Shinde alleged that Shukla climbed the pedestal with the intention to desecrate the statue. “A significant number of party workers gathered at the statue to condemn the incident and call for stern measures against the man,” Shinde stated. Stay tuned to know more about it and others only with us. If you have anything to share, do comment below and share your thoughts.
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