Gwalior- A shocking video circulating widely on X (formerly Twitter) has ignited fresh fury among Dalit and Ambedkarite communities in Gwalior, capturing a young man brazenly setting fire to a photograph of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of India's Constitution, right on a public roadway. The incident, which occurred on January 1, appears to be a deliberate act of provocation amid ongoing caste tensions stemming from a prolonged dispute over an Ambedkar statue at the local High Court premises.

Taking swift action, the Gwalior police has registered FIR against 7 named persons and other unidentified individuals. The FIR was filed by Crime Branch based on video evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and intelligence reports linking the group to provocative slogans like "Ambedkar Murdabad" during the incident.

Charges include BNS Sections 223 B, 196 (1) (a, b, c), 353 (1) (C), 190 and relevant provisions under the SC/ST Act for atrocities against Scheduled Castes. The accused named in the FIR for the Gwalior Ambedkar photo-burning incident are Mohit Rishishwar (alias Mohit Sharma), Amit Dubey, Dhyanendra Sharma, Kuldeep Kankeriya, Anil Mishra, Gaurav Vyas, and Amit Bhadoriya.

The 42-second clip, first shared by local activist @priyanshu__63 and rapidly reposted by accounts like @Sheetal2242 (garnering over 760 likes and 320 reposts), shows the unidentified youth, dressed in a white vest and trousers, standing on a zebra crossing in what appears to be a central Gwalior thoroughfare. He holds a large printed image of Dr. Ambedkar aloft, lights it with a matchstick or lighter, and allows it to burn while surrounded by a small crowd of onlookers, including individuals in what resemble police uniforms stationed nearby behind barricades. The flames consume the photo as traffic passes and pedestrians watch, with no immediate intervention visible.

Eyewitness accounts and social media commentary describe the act as occurring in broad daylight on a busy street, possibly near commercial areas, amplifying its public nature. These posts explicitly link the perpetrators to "Brahminical organizations" and supporters of controversial lawyer Anil Mishra, who has been at the center of the statue row since October 2025.

The video's virality, amassing thousands of views within hours, has sparked accusations of police complicity, with users questioning why officers present failed to act. "Where is the police? They burnt Dr. Ambedkar's picture right in front of you," Ambedkarites tweeted, tagging Gwalior Police and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

This provocative act follows a pattern of escalating confrontations in Gwalior over the proposed installation of an Ambedkar statue in the Madhya Pradesh High Court Bar Association premises.

In May 2025, upper-caste lawyers, led by Anil Mishra, protested the move, citing aesthetic concerns. Tensions boiled over in October when Mishra's viral video of derogatory remarks against Ambedkar led to FIRs, protests, school closures, and counter-effigy burnings. A December 26, 2025, attempt to burn an Ambedkar effigy at Akashvani Square, thwarted by police, further inflamed sentiments, resulting in Bhim Army protests and an ultimatum from leader Chandrashekhar Azad.

Ambedkarite groups view the photo-burning as a direct extension of this "Manuvadi" (casteist) backlash, with posts decrying it as an assault on constitutional values and Dalit dignity.

The video has triggered a digital storm, with over a dozen X posts in the last 24 hours demanding immediate arrest under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 295A (outraging religious feelings), and 505 (public mischief). Activists accused many users spreading misinformation to shield the accused, urging the Ministry of Home Affairs and local police to intervene.

Dalit organizations, including the Bhim Army and Azad Samaj Party, have renewed calls for Mishra's arrest under the National Security Act, warning of street protests if unaddressed.

Replies to the viral posts reflect broader societal divides: some decry the normalization of icon desecration, while others blame political exploitation of Ambedkar's legacy for fueling such hatred.

Bhim Army national president Vinay Ratan Singh issued a scathing statement on X, framing the act not merely as a criminal offense but as a brazen attack on the very essence of India's Constitution, democracy, and social justice. In a lengthy post that has garnered thousands of views and shares within hours, Singh highlighted the incident's place in a broader pattern of organized assaults on Ambedkar's legacy across Madhya Pradesh, including in Gwalior and Bhind, questioning the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators amid apparent political and administrative patronage.

"This shameful incident in Gwalior is not just a criminal act, but a direct assault on the soul of India's Constitution, democracy, and social justice," Singh wrote, underscoring that such events are no coincidence but part of a "planned and organized chain" of insults targeting Ambedkar's statues, name, and ideology. He raised alarming queries about why the accused remain at large despite the heinous nature of the provocation, demanding immediate arrests under the strictest provisions, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and a probe into those providing cover to these "anti-social elements" to prevent future recurrences.

Warning that leniency would only embolden criminals and cast doubt on the government's intentions, Singh declared the insult to Ambedkar an affront not just to Dalit communities but to the rule of law and the faith of millions of Indians. He issued a stark ultimatum to the state government and administration: failure to deliver "strict, prompt, and exemplary action" would be seen as tacit support for anti-Constitution forces, prompting the Bhim Army to launch a "widespread and decisive movement" to defend Ambedkar's honor and the Constitution, one that would "disturb the sleep of both the government and administration."