One more statue of Dalit icon Dr B.R. Ambedkar was desecrated when criminals destroyed its head, leading to tension in the town in West Godavari on Saturday.

Some Dalits noticed the desecration of the statue near the circle police station in the early hours and staged a dharna and rasta roko, leading to tension in the area. They demanded the arrest of the culprits.

A posse of police personnel was rushed to the area to avoid any untoward incidents. Several commercial establishments were closed in protest.

A police dog squad was pressed in to service. Fingerprint experts collected samples on the statue.

The West Godavari district in-charge joint collector, Mr M.V. Seshagiri Babu, the additional superintendent of police, Mr V.N.V. Satyanarayana and the local MLA, Mr Eeli Nani, rushed to the spot and held parleys with the agitating Dalit leaders and activists.

The additional SP, Mr Satyanarayana, ordered an inquiry into the incident, assured efforts to nab the culprits and appealed to the Dalits and the general public to remain calm. Mr Nani assured the Dalits that a bronze statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar would be installed at the same centre by April 1 to mark his birth anniversary.