The police have arrested four individuals in connection with the desecration of the Dr Ambedkar statue in Kotnur (D) village on the outskirts of Kalaburagi town in Karnataka on Monday night.
All those arrested, Kiran, Hanumanth, Manu and Sanghamesh were remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday.
The police have filed a case against them under Article 295 of the IPC and 3(1) (U) (V) of the SC/ST Act.
One individual is currently absconding in the case, said Kalaburagi Police Commissioner Chetan R.
“We have arrested four persons on Wednesday night. The special public prosecutor will be appointed for the speedy trial of the case after filing a charge-sheet against them soon. I appeal to the people and various Dalit organisations to maintain peace as stringent legal action will be initiated against all the miscreants,” Chetan said to the media.
Addressing the press, the district in-charge minister, Priyank Kharge, assured that those responsible for the desecration would be brought to justice.
Earlier, a protest broke out on Tuesday after the statue was desecrated. The protest started peacefully as members of Dalit organisations and Communist Party of India (Marxist) supporters held a demonstration and blocked roads in the town. However, it later turned violent as protestors started throwing stones at shops and other business establishments at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle, Humnabad Base and Super Market areas.
The protestors called off the strike after Deputy Commissioner Fauzia Tarannum paid floral tributes to the statue and promised to replace it with a new one.
 village on the outskirts of Kalaburagi town in Karnataka on Monday night.){kind=link}