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Night before Dussehra, Meghnad’s effigy goes up in smoke in Chandigarh
Police complaint lodged after six youngsters set effigy of Meghnad ablaze in Sector 46, Chandigarh, around 2.45am on Wednesday before fleeing in SUV
An 80-foot-tall effigy of Ravana’s son Meghnad was up in flames at the Sector 46 ground in Chandigarh when four youngsters managed to direct a rocket cracker towards it at 12.40 am on Wednesday. Incidentally, the ground also has the tallest effigy of Ravana in town at 92ft.
The incident led to resentment among people and the local Ramleela organisers lodged a complaint with the police.
Chief patron of the Ramleela body Jatinder Bhatia said, “We only got to know about the incident when half the effigy had already turned to ashes, so it could not be saved. Later, while we were arranging another effigy, we heard a rocket go off. The same miscreants, who had set the effigy of Meghnad on fire, had tried to target the Ravana effigy, but missed.”
Sector 46 market welfare association president Balwinder Singh Uttam, said, “It was a rather unfortunate incident. After two years, residents were looking forward to Dussehra celebrations. Now, the atmosphere in the market is tense. I urge the police to apprehend those involved.”
A complaint has been submitted to the area deputy superintendent of police, and he is working with the police to identify the miscreants.
Attempt to hurt sentiments: Councillor
Local area councillor Gurpreet Singh said it was an attempt to hurt people’s sentiments. “As per eyewitnesses, the youngsters had escaped through a park nearby and driven away in a white Fortuner car with a Haryana registration number. They had tried to set fire to the effigies twice, at 12.40 am and around 3 am.”
The organising committee’s general secretary, Sushil Kumar, said, “It’s unfortunate that the incident occurred despite the presence of police and privately hired bouncers at the time of the incident.”
He said a group of six youngsters was spotted running away soon after the incident and they have informed the police about this.
The Dussehra celebration went on as planned with the other two effigies and a laser show.The Dussehra mela outside the venue continued as planned with colourful weapons such as swords and bows on display. People were seen visiting stalls since the afternoon.
Ravana’s fire-damaged effigy salvaged in Dera Bassi (Embedded)
Mohali: In Dera Bassi too, unknown persons managed to set Ravana’s disassembled effigy on fire at the Ramleela ground at 12.45 am on Wednesday. However, the people on site managed to douse the flames within seconds, and salvage the effigy.
A senior police officer said that the face of the effigy was partially damaged. Tension gripped the area after the incident, and organisers raised anti-police slogans accusing police of inefficiency and carelessness. Cops pacified protesters by assuring them that the culprits will be brought to book.
Ramleela Dussehra Committee president Gulshan Sachdeva said, “We had repeatedly requested the Dera Bassi Police to deploy at least two cops to guard the effigies, but no one paid heed to our requests. As we feared, some miscreants managed to set the effigy on fire, the evening before the big event. They also pelted stones at the stage. This is a major failure of the administration and the police who have failed to make adequate arrangements.”
Calling it an attempt to sabotage Hindu festivities, he said, “We had been preparing for the event for the past two months. Moreover, the community has a religious and emotional connect with the festival. The police personal deployed to safeguard the effigies did not take their duty seriously, and returned after clicking selfies. Strict action should be taken against the culprits and the cops for dereliction of duty.”
A local resident Ram Kumar said, “Earlier too, there have been attempts to sabotage the festivities. A few days back, while a havan was underway, someone threw a coconut at the stage, but the police did not take any action.”
“Not only do such incidents cause monetary loss, but they also dampen the people’s spirits,” said another committee member.
Meanwhile, sub-inspector Jaskanwal Singh, station house officer, Dera Bassi, said a thorough investigation of the matter would be done, and appropriate legal action will be taken against the miscreants. “We will take action against those responsible and not let anybody disturb peace in the area,” said the SHO.
The suspects have been spotted on CCTV cameras around the area. No case had been filed till the filing of the report.
