A bronze effigy representing the ideals of peace, non-violence and India’s freedom struggle was shockingly dismantled from its pedestal in Rowville. The statue was that of Mahatma Gandhi, installed to mark India–Australia ties in the suburb in Melbourne.
The 426-kg bronze statue was stolen in the early hours of January 12. It was allegedly cut from its base using an angle grinder, leaving only the feet behind. The statue was then cut into pieces and removed from the site.
The manner of the vandalism pointed to a calculated act. A large public memorial, visible to the community, was systematically dismantled and erased from public view. It was removed not just from its pedestal but also from the shared civic space it occupied.
Carefully planned
The vandals struck at a site meant for reflection and remembrance. The precision and planning required suggested that they acted with intent and confidence. They exploited the cover of early morning hours, the low-visibility time, to carry out the crime undetected.
Breakthroughs into the incident have been reported, with the police claiming that three unidentified individuals stole the statue from the charity premises on Kingsley Close, Rowville, at about 12.50 am.
Scrap metal dealers have been alerted. The police have instructed them to report any suspicious activity to sell the bronze statue.
The Mahatma Gandhi statue had been gifted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi. It was inaugurated in 2021 by former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison as a symbol of the strong ties between India and Australia.
Targeted earlier
The statue had earlier been targeted within a day of its inauguration in November 2021, when it was vandalised. That incident drew condemnation in both India and Australia. No public arrests were made then.
Despite the earlier attack, no visible steps seem to have been taken to strengthen security around the statue. It was always exposed to vandalism.
Absence of strong security there screams out. It may have emboldened the vandals to execute their plans in public.
The earlier episode occurred during a period of heightened tensions linked to Khalistan-related extremist activity. According to a section of the Australian media, such activity had previously targeted diplomatic missions, community spaces and symbols associated with India in several Western countries.
‘React…hold the culprits accountable’
In a diplomatic response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident. It urged Australia to recover the statue and hold those responsible accountable.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter had been strongly raised with Australian authorities. Immediate action had been urged to recover the missing statue and hold the culprits accountable.
The Victoria Police Knox Crime Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the incident.
Also Read: Historic Garland Worn by Mahatma Gandhi at Dandi March Goes on Auction in UK https://www.vibesofindia.com/historic-garland-worn-by-mahatma-gandhi-at-dandi-march-goes-on-auction-in-uk/
