April 4, is a day of celebration across India as Ambedkar Jayanti. It is the day that marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar who is known as the main drafter of the Indian Constitution and is honored as a great fighter for the upliftment of Dalits and social equality. Traditionally, the whole country observes the day with great devotion and the main events are processions, paying homage to Dr. Ambedkar by laying garlands to his statues, and holding community meetings for constitutional harmony. However, the reverence which associated the day was overshadowed by the breakdown of law and order in many parts of Uttar Pradesh. It has been reported that violent clashes including pelting of stones and setting fire to properties were the main features of the unrest in the areas of Lakhimpur Kheri and Kasganj.
According to reports, that overstep of trying to put up statues on government land without the necessary permissions and the disagreements over the procession routes were the main issues that caused the fracas. The initially local quarrels very quickly got out of hand resulting in mob violence, the state’s police force had to bring in heavy security and use lathi-charges along with other measures to enforce order. In this article, we review the chronology of the tumult and analyze how the day which was supposed to be a celebration of the constitution turned out to be a day of widespread violence.
The Flashpoint in Lakhimpur Kheri: A Secret Statue and a Broken Compromise
Violence broke out most stiffly in Bankganj town of Mailani police station area, Lakhimpur Kheri. The dispute mainly was over a piece of government land. Local groups for long had been in conflict on using this land for Dalit icons’ commemoration. Local administration and community had, to some extent, reconciled with each other in order to maintain the peace and avoid communal or caste frictions. It was decided by both sides that on Ambedkar Jayanti, only Baba Saheb’s portrait be kept on the disputed site for garlanding and paying respects and no permanent structure or statue be put up. Yet, it was during the night of 4th April, that this very delicate agreement was broken. Witnesses and police accounts testify that during the course of the official program, a group suddenly and secretly brought a life-size statue of Dr. Ambedkar at the place. As the locals were telling, “They secretively brought Ambedkar’s statue and started installing it.”
This sudden action provoked the organizers of the event and other local groups who had agreed to follow the administrations rules. There was a fierce dispute between the ones who wanted to put up the statue and the ones who were against the breaking of the earlier agreement. The loud exchange of words got out of hand in no time and turned into a fight. While scuffling and pushing around, the statue dropped and was vandalized.
Mob Violence and Arson: The Aftermath of the Vandalized Statue
Seeing the broken statue was the main trigger for such a brutal outbreak of mob violence. The people became very angry and upset after the desecrationwhether it was a mistake or a deliberate actand lost control. Their anger was quickly turned on the local officials and police officers who were trying to settle things down and calm the fighting groups down.
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The situation got worse very fast when the mob changed to throwing big stones. Besides that, police vehicles were attacked, damaged, and even set on fire in some cases. The incident caused a lot of damage in Bankeganj. Initially 0 police officers got injured under the heavy throwing of stones while they were very much outnumbered. Besides that, a local reporter who was covering the incident and a local woman named Chanda Devi who got only slightly hurt in the very first fight, were two other people who got caught in the crossfire and got injured.
Alarmed by the serious nature of the matter, the district authorities got active immediately. District Magistrate (DM) Durga Shakti Nagpal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khyati Garg, along with a large number of police personnel, went to the location. Actually, to get rid of the violent group and take control of the town again, the police had to resort to using light force and doing a lathi-charge. After the police action, the area was being regularly watched by a large police force, and at once, eight people were arrested.
Kasganj: Procession Ambushed by Stone-Pelting
As Lakhimpur Kheri was immersed in arson and conflicts over a statue, yet another very disturbing episode took place in Kasganj The violence in Kasganj was in the Chahka Gunar village which comes under the jurisdiction of the Sahawar police station. As a part of their Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations, they had planned a magnificent procession. Hundreds of people, while dancing and singing the praises of Dr. Ambedkar, were marching through the village. The tension that eventually led to the violence in Kasganj was brought about due to a difference of opinion about the route of the procession. While the procession was passing through the area, a fight erupted between the processionists and another group from the locality. Before the police could resolve the issues behind the quarrel, some hooligans suddenly started throwing stones at the procession. People panicked and took shelter to avoid being hit by the stones.
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The unexpected attack could have caused a huge reckless crowd. Still, the police force along with senior officials who came very fast, stopped the crisis from becoming widespread burning. Kasganj Superintendent of Police (SP) Om Prakash Singh himself keep an eye on the crackdown on the culprits. The police took firm measures, running after the stone-pelters and restored the situation. Later, large-scale operations resulted in the arrest of 3 people who were connected to the unrest. To make sure the procession was finished peacefully and at the same time prevent any counter-attacks, proper forces were deployed
A Broader Pattern of Unrest: Agra and Lucknow
The disturbances experienced on Ambedkar Jayanti were not only restricted to Lakhimpur Kheri and Kasganj. Police recorded a few isolated but very disturbing incidents in other big districts of Uttar Pradesh, indicating a simmering tension.
A quarrel closed to a fight broke out at Banthra in Ambedkar Nagar village in the state capital, Lucknow. The factional feud over who should have the honor of garlanding Dr. Ambedkar’s statue came to the fore. Unfortunately, the competition for political supremacy unfolded into an exchange of blows that left both sides with minor injuries.
The police local to the place took the report by lodging an FIR, capturing seven persons and brought the area to peace very shortly. Also in Agra, tense moments were experienced when some hooligans attempting to reach Parshuram Chowk, an act that could lead to caste-based tensions. However, the police with their quick crowd management prevented the situation from escalating to physical violence.
The Administrative Response and Ongoing Vigilance
Uttar Pradesh Government saw coordinated disruption as a serious matter. Director General of Police (DGP), Rajeev Krishna, who is also the head of police, made an official press release on the matter to calm people down and inform them that law and order measures were fully in place. According to the DGP statement nearly 40 people were arrested in the districts that were disturbed. The DGP stated that serious measures against the wrong-doers and those disturbing communal or caste harmony would continue without any let-up.
The main part of the police work after the riot has been fighting against spreading of false information. In a time when social networking is highly developed, stories of desecrated statues or of one side being manhandled can be widely circulated resulting more violence even in the areas where it has been kept under control. With militants posting their evil things on social media platforms, it is the necessity of the hour to keep cyber cells ready at all times and to track down and get rid of their posts. This is in order not to let the anti-social elements manipulate the ground reality.
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Conclusion: A Message Lost in the Chaos?
The violence that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri Kasganj Lucknow, and Agra highlights the existing deep societal divisions that can still lead to conflict in the region. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is an example of a person who fought for justice, constitutional morality, and the abolition of social divisions which lead to violence.
Baba Saheb’s followers should just celebrate his life in a peaceful manner and according to his teachings i.e. education, agitation, and organization through democratic and non-violent ways. Government and police are to be appreciated for reacting quite fast to the riots. However, the root problems of these caste and territorial-based conflicts require a more profound societal reflection. In the wake of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri and Kasganj, the key message of equality and fraternity as promoted by Dr. Ambedkar is sadly pushed aside by the devastation, arson, and broken statues.
