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** ** * Jharkhand News * <http://jharkhand.org.in/> Defaced Birsa statue triggers tension The disfigured statue of Birsa Munda at Sopodera. *Jamshedpur, July 28:* Tension gripped tribal-dominated Sopodera under Parsudih police station area after a statue of Birsa Munda was disfigured by goons early in the morning today. Birsa Munda is deeply respected both by people of the tribal communities and by non-tribal residents, therefore, anticipating tension in that area, armed police were deployed. Sources said one of the hands of the 7ft-tall statue, made of plaster of Paris, had cracked after being vandalised, while a portion of the iron bow and arrow was found lying on the ground. The secretary of Adivasi Munda Samaj, Ram Singh Munda, stressed that the act was performed to disturb the harmony between tribals and non-tribals in the area. "More than one person was involved in this act. The criminals used hammer to break the bow and arrow, otherwise breaking iron items is difficult," Munda. After the act of vandalism was discovered, leaders of political parties and tribal organisations soon poured in at the spot. The JMM district president of East Singhbhum, Rodia Soren, JMM spokesperson Ramesh Hansda and senior leaders rushed to the spot. Munda assured people belonging to the tribal community that they had every right to be "upset" to see their freedom fighter in such a state, but asked people to be patient. He added that Adivasi Munda Samaj and members of the JMM have presented a 48-hour ultimatum before the district administration to detect culprits or face a gherao. If the case is not solved then the party and the tribal organisation would gherao the deputy commissioner's office. "As the incident has hit the very sentiments of the tribal community, the administration must find out those involved, even if it was some mischief mongers," Munda said. Six years ago the Adivasi Munda Samaj had installed the statue and JMM president Shibu Soren had inaugurated it. A case has been registered with Parsudih police station against unknown people in this regard. Sub-inspector and officer in charge of Parsudih police station Krishna Murari said disfiguring the statue was a serious offense as it could spark communal tension in that area. "Why will somebody in their senses do something like this? Though the irrationality of the act points towards inebriated persons. It does not seem that the people did it with sinister motive, as they would have disfigured the whole statue. Investigation is on and we would find out the culprits soon," said Murari. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080729/jsp/jharkhand/story_9615810.jsp * * * * .
