Lucknow: Five officials, including three cops, were suspended and a notice issued to a village head over lapses in handling the Ambedkar statue row that triggered violence and stone-pelting on police personnel in Deoria district.District Magistrate Madhusudan Hulgi said disciplinary proceedings were initiated against officials accused of failing to promptly inform senior authorities about the developing situation. Those suspended are sub-inspector Arvind Yadav, LIU sub-inspector Nageshwar Singh, constable Ramesh Yadav, panchayat secretary Sanjeev Gupta and lekhpal Arvind Singh.Administration has issued a notice to village head Durgawati Devi seeking explanation regarding the incident. The suspended officials have been directed to submit their replies, the district magistrate said.Police have registered an FIR against seven named accused and around 70 unidentified persons for rioting, promoting enmity, attacking police personnel and other offences. The case was lodged on the complaint of Madanpur SHO Mrityunjay Rai.Among those named in the FIR are Tuntun, Aniket, Vikas, Anil Bharti and Ankul. They have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Criminal Law Amendment Act.According to officials, the dispute began after a group of villagers installed an Ambedkar statue on govt land by constructing a platform without obtaining administrative approval in Labkani village of Gauri Bazaar area. Authorities later persuaded local residents to follow the prescribed legal process and initiated removal of the statue on Thursday evening.During the operation, a section of residents resorted to stone-pelting, injuring several police personnel, including the SHO. Police subsequently dispersed the crowd and removed the statue.Heavy security deployment continued in the village on Friday, with police conducting combing operations and maintaining a strict vigil to prevent fresh disturbances. Members of the Azad Samaj Party also visited the village but no untoward incident was reported.The administration has assured residents that the statue can be installed after obtaining the permission.
