Jaisalmer: A portrait of Bhimrao Ambedkar installed at a circle in Aadel village of Barmer district was found damaged late Monday night, triggering protests and a sit-in by local residents demanding the arrest of those responsible.Sadar police rushed to the spot after receiving information and tried to pacify the agitated crowd. Barmer superintendent of police (SP) Chuna Ram Jat, additional superintendent of police (ASP) Nitesh Arya and other officers, including DSP Ramesh Kumar Sharma, also reached the site and monitored the situation.According to police, the railing of the Aadel circle and the Ambedkar portrait were found broken and lying on the ground. As news spread, villagers gathered at the site, set up a tent and staged a sit-in. Police counselled the protesters for nearly three hours.An agreement was later reached to rebuild the circle and install a new portrait under the supervision of a committee comprising the tehsildar, block development officer and other officials. Following this, the protesters agreed to call off the agitation.Police teams have been formed to scan CCTV footage from nearby areas. Preliminary investigation indicated that the damage may have been caused by a vehicle collision, and efforts are on to ascertain whether it was deliberate or accidental.ASP Nitesh Arya said, “We are tracing the vehicle owner. Following counselling, peace has been maintained at the spot for now.”
