Netaji statue vandalised in Kolkata hours after CM Suvendu Adhikari's warning over disrespect

The damage to the statue, located near a three-way crossing, sparked anger among local residents and political workers and prompted the Kolkata Police to launch an investigation.

Police probe circumstances of damage

A senior police officer said authorities were trying to determine when and how the statue was damaged.

"It is not immediately clear whether the damage was deliberately caused, and the circumstances under which it occurred," the officer said.

Police are examining the available evidence and are likely to scrutinise CCTV footage from the area to establish what happened. No arrests have been made so far.

BJP demands immediate arrests

Local BJP workers who visited the site alleged that the statue had been vandalised by unidentified miscreants on Wednesday night and demanded their immediate arrest.

BJP South Kolkata organisational secretary Tarak Banerjee said the timing of the incident raised serious questions, coming so soon after the chief minister's warning.

He demanded a speedy investigation and action against those responsible for damaging the statue.

CM had warned of strict action

On Wednesday, Adhikari directed the police to take stringent action against people making insulting, false or defamatory statements about Netaji on social media.

He had also called on those responsible to apologise and delete the posts, while making it clear that deleting a post would not exempt anyone from legal action.

The chief minister's directive followed controversy over remarks by BJP MP Nagendranath Roy, popularly known as Ananta Maharaj, who had described Netaji as a "war criminal" and questioned his leadership as well as the role of the Azad Hind Fauj in India's freedom struggle.

Adhikari subsequently directed police to take action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) against those making similar derogatory remarks.

'Banga Bibhushan' award withdrawn

The controversy escalated further on Thursday when the West Bengal government withdrew the 'Banga Bibhushan' award previously conferred on Ananta Maharaj.

The latest incident involving Netaji's statue has now added another flashpoint to the controversy, with police investigating whether the damage was accidental or a deliberate act of vandalism.