A newly installed bust of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and another of Gopal Mukherjee were allegedly vandalised in north Kolkata just hours before their scheduled inauguration on July 6. Police arrested one accused and launched an investigation by examining CCTV footage and collecting evidence from the site. The incident came ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Kolkata to mark Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee Bust Vandalism: Key Takeaways
- Busts of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Gopal Mukherjee were allegedly vandalised in north Kolkata.
- The incident occurred around midnight before the scheduled inauguration on July 6.
- Police arrested one accused, identified as 26-year-old Bapi Hazra of Narkeldanga.
- CCTV footage has been secured and is being examined as part of the investigation.
- Broken tiles and a partially damaged cement nameplate were seized from the site.
- The incident took place ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Kolkata for Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s birth anniversary programmes.
- BJP leaders condemned the incident, while police said the investigation is continuing.
Busts Allegedly Damaged Hours Before Scheduled Inauguration
A portion of the newly installed busts of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Gopal Mukherjee at the intersection of APC Road and Ram Mohan Roy Road in north Kolkata was allegedly vandalised around midnight on Saturday, according to police.
The busts had been installed on the footpath beside a traffic police kiosk, where installation work had been underway for nearly a week. Their inauguration was scheduled for Monday, July 6, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
According to BJP North Kolkata Yuva vice-president Saumajit Roy Chowdhury, workers had been asked to extend their working hours on Saturday so that the installation could be completed before the inauguration ceremony.
“We were supposed to inaugurate the statues on Monday. We had asked the workers on Saturday to put in a few extra hours so that the work could be completed on time,” Roy Chowdhury said.
Workers and Local Residents Reported the Damage
According to Roy Chowdhury, local residents alerted BJP workers during the night.
He said that around 1 am, party workers received information that some people had allegedly attempted to damage the pedestal where the cement nameplates had been installed.
“When we reached the spot, we found that several broken tiles were lying around,” he said.
A local shop owner also described what was seen the following morning.
“The workers had been here every day for almost a week and were trying to finish the installation before Monday. When we opened our shops this morning, we found the pedestal damaged and police had already reached the spot,” the shop owner said.
Another worker associated with the installation told ANI that he had left the site around 7 pm on Saturday and returned at about 10 am the next day, when he discovered that the tile and nameplate of the statue had been damaged.
Police Register Case, Arrest One Accused
Following the incident, Roy Chowdhury lodged a complaint at Amherst Street Police Station, alleging vandalism and stating that the incident had hurt religious sentiments.
Police registered a case against unknown persons and later arrested one accused.
The arrested individual was identified as Bapi Hazra, 26, a resident of Narkeldanga.
He was produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody until July 9.
Police also recovered several broken tiles and fragments of the partially damaged cement nameplate from the location.
Officials stated that the seized materials would form part of the ongoing investigation.
CCTV Footage Under Examination
Police cordoned off the area surrounding the damaged structure on Sunday and initiated a detailed investigation.
According to investigating officers, CCTV footage from the surrounding area has been secured and is being examined.
A senior officer of Kolkata Police’s North Division, who visited the site, said investigators are also checking whether any associates of the arrested accused were present during the incident.
Officials stated that the investigation remains in progress.
Incident Takes Place Ahead of Amit Shah’s Kolkata Visit
The alleged vandalism occurred just ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Kolkata on Monday to participate in programmes marking the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
According to the scheduled programme, Shah is expected to pay floral tributes at Mookerjee’s ancestral residence in Bhowanipore.
He is also expected to lay the foundation stone for a proposed 125-foot statue of Syama Prasad Mookerjee at his ancestral home in Jirat, Hooghly district, besides attending a commemorative programme at the Biswa Bangla Mela Ground.
The BJP government has also declared July 6 a public holiday to mark Mookerjee’s birth anniversary.
Political Reactions Following the Incident
Reacting to the alleged vandalism, West Bengal Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee condemned the incident.
He said every citizen of West Bengal knows the historical significance of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and added that such incidents would not affect his legacy.
The BJP also criticised the alleged vandalism, stating that Syama Prasad Mookerjee continues to live in the hearts of the people.
Who Was Syama Prasad Mookerjee?
Syama Prasad Mookerjee was born on July 6, 1901, in Kolkata.
He was an educationist, lawyer and politician who later became the founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, established in 1951.
Mookerjee also served as India’s first Minister for Industry and Supply in the country’s first Union Cabinet after Independence. Earlier in his career, he served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta.
His birth anniversary is observed every year, and commemorative programmes were scheduled in Kolkata this year to mark his 125th birth anniversary.
Police Investigation Continues
As of the latest available information, police continue to investigate the alleged vandalism.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage, analysing the evidence recovered from the site and looking into whether additional persons were involved.
The case remains under investigation, while the scheduled programmes connected with Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s birth anniversary continue as planned.
Key Information at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
| Incident | Alleged vandalism of busts |
| Location | APC Road–Ram Mohan Roy Road, North Kolkata |
| Date | Around midnight on Saturday, before July 6 inauguration |
| Busts | Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Gopal Mukherjee |
| Accused Arrested | Bapi Hazra (26), resident of Narkeldanga |
| Police Action | Case registered, evidence seized, CCTV under examination |
| Court Order | Police custody till July 9 |
| Scheduled Event | Inauguration on July 6 and Amit Shah’s visit |
| Investigation Status | Ongoing |
Latest Developments in the Case
The alleged vandalism of the newly installed busts has drawn attention because it occurred immediately before the planned inauguration and the observance of Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary. Police have initiated an investigation, secured evidence from the site and arrested one accused. Authorities continue to examine CCTV footage and investigate whether any additional individuals were involved, while commemorative events connected with Mookerjee’s birth anniversary remain scheduled as planned.
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FAQs on Syama Prasad Mookerjee Bust Vandalism
1. What happened to Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s bust in Kolkata?
The newly installed bust was allegedly vandalised before its scheduled inauguration on July 6.
2. Where did the incident occur?
It occurred at the intersection of APC Road and Ram Mohan Roy Road in north Kolkata.
3. Has anyone been arrested?
Yes. Police arrested 26-year-old Bapi Hazra of Narkeldanga.
4. Why was the bust being inaugurated?
The inauguration was planned on July 6 to mark Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s 125th birth anniversary.
5. What is the current status of the investigation?
Police have seized evidence, secured CCTV footage and continue to investigate the incident.
