Darbhanga: A statue of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar unites and divides residents of Harichanda village at Darbhanga, around 145km north-east of Patna.

The difference of opinion is only over what led to the statue's damage. Most residents say it was damaged during clashes years ago, while some in authority blame it on the rain. But the village is unanimous in its wish to see the statue back in shape again.

Ram Kumar Paswan, a resident, said the statue on the village main road was a source of inspiration for the youth. It inspired the youth to study hard and be like the man who is synonymous with India's Constitution. "Whenever we see the damaged statue, it makes us unhappy and we request the administration to restore it as soon as possible," Ram Kumar said.

The statue was installed by Badri Das, a resident, in 2002 and supposedly damaged during panchayat elections in 2011. Several Dalit homes were also torched in caste clashes over candidate support during the 2011 panchayat elections at Harichanda.

Dalit leader and former zilla parishad head Ram Pravesh Paswan said some notorious elements from nearby Panchobh village came and turned violent following disagreement over voting. "They damaged the statue and torched over two dozen houses, mostly belonging to Dalits," said Ram Pravesh Paswan.

But Pachobh panchayat mukhiya Rajiv Kumar Choudhary denied the statue was destroyed during the clashes. He claimed it withered away during rains and storms. He, however, said if the administration wants to restore the statue, residents, too, would chip in. Hanuman Nagar circle officer Bhuwaneshwar Jha said the issue was so old, he would have to check his records.