The desecrated statue on Saturday. (Gautam Dey)

Dhanbad, Feb. 16: Sindri residents woke up to find a decapitated bust of tribal hero Birsa Munda at Rangamati Ground, 30km from the district headquarters, this morning, triggering cries from all quarters to arrest the vandals.

Locals spotted the desecrated bust, made of plaster of Paris, at the public ground in Baliapur police station area around 7am. The severed head lay on a concrete slab on which the bust stands and an iron rod was found a few yards away.

The news spread like wild fire and soon a large number of people and office-bearers of Birsa Smarak Samiti, which had set up the bust on December 9, 2010, reached the site.

Local leaders, including three councillors and Sindri MLA Phul Chand Mandal, visited the spot and pacified agitated residents. Office-bearers of Sindri Chamber of Commerce also held talks with DSP (Sindri) Chandan Sinha.

A tense atmosphere prevailed, as members of Birsa Smarak Samiti including its president Lakhiram Soren and secretary Bablu Mahto, too, talked to the police.

The situation turned normal only after DSP Sinha, after an all-party meeting, assured to nab the culprits.

Sinha said the police had gathered clues about the perpetrators after taking to local residents and with the recovery of wine bottles, cigarette packets and the rod that was found near the bust.

Police later brought a dog squad to Rangamati Ground and also raided a few places nearby. Officials of the forensic department of police collected samples from the site.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers in Sindri downed shutters to protest the incident and demanded immediate arrests.

“Sindri Chamber of Commerce members decided to extend full co-operation to police investigations and demanded quick arrests, as rumour mongering at this stage may create a backlash,” said DSP Sinha.