Chandigarh: Attempt to burn effigies in Sector 46, vigilance increased

Chandigarh: On Wednesday night, unknown miscreants tried to burn the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakaran and Meghnath with rockets in Sector 46, forcing Dussehra organisers to increase vigil at the venue. Police have started investigating the matter. This is the second such incident in the last two years. In 2022, miscreants had set fire to the effigy of Meghnath just a day before Dussehra. According to sources, five miscreants reached the Dussehra ground around 10 pm. Under the cover of darkness, they fired rockets at the effigies. Security personnel deployed at the spot raised an alarm, due to which the suspects fled. Shri Sanatan Dharma Dussehra Committee president Jitendra Bhatia confirmed the attempt to burn the effigies. He said the incident was averted due to the timely response of the committee members. Bhatia said, “A similar incident in 2022 disrupted the Dussehra celebrations.” In the 2022 incident, miscreants set the 82-foot tall effigy of Meghnath on fire with a rocket at around 1 am. They fled after being spotted by a guard. The police registered a case and later three suspects, including an NRI, were arrested for the crime.