Heavy police presence continues in Odiyathur village near Gangavalli in Tamil Nadu’s Salem district following a clash over the unveiling of an Ambedkar statue, resulting in injuries to six individuals, including three police officers. More than 100 police personnel are stationed in the area to maintain law and order as rival groups clashed over the statue at the Four Roads roundabout in Odiyathur panchayat. Senior revenue and police officials are actively monitoring the situation.
The dispute stems from 2020 when a group erected a seated statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at the junction, depicting him seated with one leg crossed over the other. However, another segment of the local community opposed the installation and unveiling of the statue at the site, leading to tensions.
Efforts to inaugurate the statue in 2021 were halted by the then Tahsildar Venkatesan, revenue officials, and police, who insisted on keeping the statue covered until a consensus was reached through official discussions. Consequently, the statue remained veiled in cloth for nearly five years without an official unveiling.
Tensions reignited recently when the covering over the Ambedkar statue was unexpectedly removed, sparking protests from one group demanding a re-covering until legal matters were resolved. Another group opposed re-concealing the statue, resulting in a standoff that required intervention from revenue authorities and a subsequent peace meeting.
Assistant Collector Tamilmani emphasized that the Ambedkar statue could only be unveiled with court permission to maintain peace. As a temporary measure, he announced the covering of nearby statues, including those of K. Kamaraj and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, with the assistance of the Revenue Department. Despite efforts to enclose the statues, a confrontation ensued, leading to injuries to three police personnel and three protesters, who were all treated at the Gangavalli Government Hospital.
Police remain vigilant in the village to prevent further disturbances and ensure public safety.
