Tensions in Agra over Installation and Removal of Maharishi Valmiki Statue; Cleaning Workers Threaten Strike

Agra, Uttar Pradesh: A dispute erupted at Ambedkar Chowk in Agra on Monday following the installation and subsequent removal of a Maharishi Valmiki statue, sparking anger among the Valmiki community. Members of the community have threatened to halt all cleaning and maintenance work unless the statue is reinstated within 72 hours.

The incident took place in Fatehabad town, behind an old well near Ambedkar Chowk. Residents from the Valmiki community constructed a platform and installed the statue around noon. However, the Palaiwal family, claiming the land as their ancestral property, had previously arranged for construction of a boundary wall on the same plot using bricks and sand. The family alerted the police after the statue was installed without proper authorization.

Police Intervention
Police, accompanied by the revenue team led by Naib Tehsildar Pramod Kumar, arrived at the site and asked for legal permission to place the statue. When no such documents were provided, authorities attempted to remove the statue. A large crowd from the Valmiki community gathered at the site to protest, necessitating deployment of additional police forces to safely remove the statue.

AC Police Officer Fatehabad, Anil Kumar, confirmed that the statue had been installed without prior permission and was subsequently taken down.

Disputed Land Ownership
The land in question remains contentious. While the Palaiwal family claims it as their ancestral property, the Valmiki community contends that the land was historically donated to their ancestors. Police also described the land as disputed. Members of the Valmiki community argued that a statue had previously existed on the site; however, police confirmed via video evidence that the statue was newly installed.

Community Threatens Strike
Following the removal, members of the Valmiki community convened a panchayat and staged a sit-in protest, accusing the administration of unilateral action. They issued a 72-hour ultimatum, warning that if the statue was not reinstalled, they would halt all cleaning and sanitation work in the area.

Security Measures
Authorities have deployed significant police personnel and established pickets to prevent any clashes between the two groups. Officials are engaging both sides in dialogue to resolve the matter peacefully. For now, the area remains under tense but controlled conditions.