A man was arrested on Sunday night for allegedly attempting to desecrate a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Pune Railway Station, triggering outrage and protests from local political leaders.
The accused, Suraj Shukla, a native of Uttar Pradesh, was reportedly seen using a sharp tool in an effort to damage the statue. Alert locals intervened, subdued him, and handed him over to the railway police.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Milind Mohite, the man is suspected to be mentally unstable, with initial reports indicating he was disturbed following the recent death of his sister.
“Preliminary assessments suggest psychological distress, but all aspects are being thoroughly verified,” Mohite stated.
The incident sparked strong condemnation from the Congress Party, with party workers, led by Pune City President Arvind Shinde, gathering at the site in protest. They performed a Dudhabhishek (ritual milk ablution) on the statue as a symbolic act of purification and respect.
“This was a disgraceful act against a national symbol of peace and non-violence. We demand stringent laws to prevent such incidents in the future,” said Shinde.
Following the attempted desecration, security has been increased around the Gandhi statue at the station premises. Authorities have assured that a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact motive behind the act.
Further updates are awaited.
