Vandals strike Dasehra decor in Dhalpur

Barely 10 days after illuminating Dhalpur’s exhibition ground, the decorative LED lights encircling the fountain, a centrepiece of this year’s Dasehra celebrations, were vandalised late Friday night, leaving the festive landmark in darkness.

Around 1.30 am, a group of youths reportedly tore out and smashed five multi-coloured LED fixtures embedded in the fountain’s pipes. The police, aided by CCTV footage, swiftly identified the culprits, summoned them for questioning and recovered the damaged lights. The offenders later confessed and paid a fine of Rs 35,000 as compensation.

Municipal officials confirmed that the lights will soon be replaced and the fountain restored to its former brilliance. However, the incident has cast a shadow on public safety, particularly since it occurred within sight of key administrative buildings.

With the Dhalpur Ground drawing massive crowds for Dasehra, the act has exposed glaring lapses in vigilance. Despite functioning cameras helping solve the case, the ease with which the miscreants operated reveals a deeper disregard for civic order among sections of youth.

This isn’t an isolated case. Dhalpur’s “I Love Kullu” installation was vandalised soon after its unveiling a few years ago. The Municipal Council has now warned that any further damage to public property will invite strict legal action.