Early Friday morning, on October 3, 2025, a palpable tension descended upon Vedurukuppam and its neighboring areas in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district. The cause: an abhorrent act of vandalism in Devalampeta village, where unknown individuals desecrated a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by setting it ablaze.
Reports indicate that the perpetrators doused the statue, along with its surrounding iron bars and pedestal, with petrol before setting it alight. Local villagers, alerted by the flames, quickly rushed to the scene in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
News of the incident rapidly spread, drawing hundreds of enraged residents from various hamlets who promptly initiated protests. Key rural roads leading to Puttur, Pallipattu, and Kothapallimitta were brought to a standstill as protestors engaged in ‘rastha-rokos’ (road blockades), vehemently demanding the immediate apprehension of those responsible.
In response to the escalating unrest, significant police reinforcements from Chittoor, Puttur, and Nagari were swiftly deployed across several villages within the Vedurukuppam, Karveti Nagaram, and S.R. Puram mandals of the Gangadhara Nellore Assembly constituency (a reserved Scheduled Caste seat).
Seeking to de-escalate the volatile situation, District Collector Sumit Kumar and Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi promptly arrived in Devalampeta. They held an urgent meeting with local community elders, issuing a fervent appeal for calm and peace.