Ambedkar Statue Cover Removal Sparks Fresh Tension, Injures Six in Salem Village

In the early hours of July 12, the cloth shielding the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar seated statue at Odiyathur's Four Roads junction was stripped away, reigniting a bitter community dispute that began in 2020.

The sudden exposure of the monument led to a standoff between two local groups. Heated words quickly escalated into a scuffle, during which three police officers and three civilians, including three women, were wounded.

Medical staff at Gangavalli Government Hospital reported that the injuries were non‑life‑threatening, and all patients are now under observation.

The district administration has responded by positioning a sizable police force throughout the village. An emergency meeting of a peace committee, chaired by Assistant Collector Tamilmani, was convened to negotiate a temporary solution. The committee plans to keep the statue covered again until the court grants permission for an official unveiling.