In Samogara village of Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district, a clash erupted on April 21 between villagers and administrative officials after an unauthorised statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was installed overnight by local Dalit residents.

The confrontation took place when a team of police and revenue officials arrived the following day to remove the statue, citing violation of a 2008 government order that mandates prior approval from the district magistrate before erecting any statue, even on private land.

As tensions escalated, villagers — including several women — reportedly gathered to protect the statue, and some allegedly pelted stones and bricks at the officials. Following the incident, police booked 12 Dalit individuals, including three women, and named 30 unidentified persons under serious charges, including attempt to murder, rioting, and assault on public servants, according to a report by The Wire.

Chandraprakash Lal, the local tehsildar who filed the complaint, defended the action citing existing regulations. Circle Officer Mayank Dwivedi claimed a local woman leader had incited the villagers and said the statue was removed "respectfully" by the authorities.

The crackdown has sparked strong political reactions. Samajwadi Party leaders who visited the village condemned the administration’s actions.

Former MLA Vijay Paswan accused the BJP-led government of hypocrisy, saying that while the party celebrates Ambedkar publicly, it does not uphold his legacy when it matters. SP leader Lalji Yadav questioned why similar zeal isn’t shown when unauthorised worship of Hindu deities takes place on private lands.

The incident in Samogara comes amid a spate of similar tensions across the state. Reports have emerged of Ambedkar statues being desecrated in Kushinagar, Sonbhadra, and Ghazipur — in the latter case, within 24 hours of its installation. These incidents have only deepened anxieties and anger among Dalit communities across Uttar Pradesh.