LAHORE: Some people damaged the statue of 19th century Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Lahore Fort on Saturday.

Wielding clubs and bricks, they entered Mai Jinda’s Haveli where the statue was installed and damaged a part of it.

Onlookers informed the police who rushed to the site and arrested two suspects — Adnan Mughal and Asad. A criminal case was registered against the two who officials said seem to be members of a religious organisation.

The statue is a gift to the people of Punjab from the UK-based S.K. Foundation. The seven-foot-tall statue has been installed at Haveli Mai Jinda where Ranjit Singh’s beloved wife Maharani Jind Kaur resided.

The Lahore Walled City Authority unveiled the statue at a ceremony in June.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2019