Pakistan: Statue Of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Vandalised By Men Angry Over Abrogation Of Special Status Of Kashmir

A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the charismatic Sikh ruler, was vandalised in Lahore, Pakistan, reports The Hindu.

Two accused have been arrested and FIR lodged by the police. They reportedly belong to Tehreek-Labbaik Pakistan of Maulana Khaim Rizvi, and were angry after the revocation of Article 370 by India which ended the special status of Kashmir.

The nine-feet statue of the Sikh ruler was installed at Lahore fort in June. The Walled City of Lahore Authority that is responsible for the matters of the Lahore Fort has expressed shock and vowed to repair the statue soon after Eid.

“This is quite unfortunate incident. We will enhance security at the Lahore Fort so that no such incident should take place in the future,” Walled City of Lahore Authority spokesperson Tania Qureshi told PTI.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh, popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab ruled the north western part of Indian subcontinent in the 19th century. He is remembered for uniting different misls and founding the prosperous Sikh Empire.

Through his well-trained, self-sufficient Khalsa army and conquests, he amassed considerable wealth, including gaining the possession of the Koh-i-Noor diamond from Shuja Shah Durrani of Afghanistan, which he donated to Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha in 1839.