Guwahati: Two youths were arrested in Guwahati on Saturday for allegedly defacing a public wall.Police said a patrol team on Friday night found them painting a mural of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on a wall along the road leading to the Jyoti-Bishnu International Auditorium without permission.“Our patrol party found two youths trying to damage a public wall on the road leading to the Jyoti-Bishnu International Auditorium. They had smeared colours on the wall and admitted that they were painting a picture of Sonam Wangchuk, which was partially completed,” a police officer said.The duo was taken to Dispur police station, where a case was registered. Police said they would be released after questioning and service of notice.In a separate case, Basistha police began a probe against unidentified persons for painting another portrait of Wangchuk on a pillar of the Basistha flyover two days ago. Efforts are on to identify those involved, the official said.The official said “damaging the beauty of flyovers and public infrastructure by painting at will” has become a trend, and “this is not acceptable.”The action follows chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s directive that no paintings or murals be allowed on flyovers or public infrastructure without prior permission. His remarks came after a row over the removal of a mural of late singer Zubeen Garg from the Ganeshguri flyover during a beautification drive.
