Jalandhar, April 5: Security around 56 statues of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in rural Jalandhar and surrounding areas in Doaba has been intensified following a threat issued by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The warning came on March 31—the same day a statue of Ambedkar was vandalized in Nangal village, Phillaur.
A video released that morning featured SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who used derogatory language for Ambedkar and claimed responsibility for the vandalism. In the video, widely circulated on social media, Pannu said, “Ambedkar’s statues must fall in Punjab.
A man who branded Sikhs as Hindus—directly contributing to the conditions that led to the 1984 Sikh genocide—cannot be honoured on Sikh soil.” He further called for the removal of all Ambedkar statues in Punjab before his birth anniversary on April 14.
In response, the police have placed all Ambedkar statues and memorials in the Jalandhar Range under continuous monitoring. “All these 56 points will be covered by CCTV surveillance, and some statues will also get glass covers,” said DIG (Jalandhar Range) Naveen Singla on Friday.
He added that multiple levels of security have been activated, including night patrol teams, PCRs, and checkpoints.
“Apart from the police surveillance through PCRs and patrol teams, panchayats will act as force multipliers through community presence and ‘pehras’,” Singla said.
The police are focusing surveillance efforts in sensitive regions including Phillaur, Nakodar and Shahkot—areas with a strong following of Ambedkar’s legacy, particularly among Dalit communities.
Over 700 police personnel have been deployed across the Jalandhar range, with 250 active in each district during night hours.
Besides, six to seven gazetted officers, two per district, have been assigned to oversee the operation.
Police have also arrested two individuals in connection with recent vandalism incidents. “The arrest of the two men is a major development as they were active for the recent incidents in the region. In future too, no untoward activity will be allowed,” Singla said.
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