Rajasthan contractor held for putting up Nathuram Godse plaque

A 45-year-old contractor was on Thursday arrested for allegedly putting up a plaque naming a newly-constructed flyover after Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse in Alwar city of Rajasthan.

The plaque of flex reading 'Rashtrawadi Nathuram Godse Pul' (Nationalist Nathuram Godse Bridge) was found pasted on the flyover connecting Bhagat Singh Circle to Agrasen Circle in Alwar on Wednesday prompting the authorities to immediately remove it. The accused Neeraj Kumar Sharma got the plaque of flex prepared from a printing press and pasted it on the newly constructed flyover on Tuesday, police said.

"He was detained last night (Wednesday) and was placed under arrest today (Thursday) under relevant sections of prevention of defacement of property act and Indian Penal Code," Superintendent of Police Alwar Vikas Kumar told PTI.

"Sharma is a contractor with the electricity department and had no involvement in the construction of the flyover. What was the motive of writing Godse's name on the flyover is not clear and he is being interrogated," he said.

Initial investigation does not reveal any political affiliation of the accused, he said. "We have also identified owner of the printing press where the plaque was prepared and he will also be arrested," the SP said.

A first information report against unknown persons was registered by Urban Improvement Trust of Alwar on Wednesday after the matter came to light.

The divisional commissioner of Jaipur has sought a factual report in the matter from Alwar's district collector. "The collector's report is expected by tomorrow (Friday)," Divisional Commissioner Hanuman Singh Bhati said.

After the plaque was found, the Congress reacted sharply blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party government for trying to glorify Godse.

Former Congress MP from Alwar Bhanwar Jitendra Singh and other leaders demanded action against the accused on Wednesday.

Image: The plaque pasted on the flyover in Alwar