Updated on Friday, December 15, 2006, 00:00 IST

Kanpur, Dec 15: Two statues of Bhim Rao Ambedkar were found damaged in separate areas here today triggering tension in the localities, authorities said.

Chief Development Officer of Kanpur Dehat Nand Kishore Yadav told reporters that this morning the statues of Ambedkar were found damaged in Ahmedpur Sauda and Sherpur Karaunda areas of Gajner Police circle here.

He said as soon as the news spread people assembled near the damaged statues and staged demonstrations. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits and replacement of the statues.

Yadav said an FIR in this connection has been lodged and orders given for their replacement.

He said the situation was slowly becoming normal and people started returning to their homes.

This is the second such incident of damaging of Ambedakar's statue in the city in a fortnight. On November 29, a statue of the Dalit leader was found damaged in Kakadeo area of Kanpur city. The district administration replaced the damaged statue but no arrest has been made so far in this connection.

Bureau Report