Guwahati: Two people were arrested in Guwahati on Friday night for allegedly painting a mural of activist Sonam Wangchuk on a government wall, with police accusing them of defacing public property.
The arrests came a day after a large mural of Wangchuk painted on a flyover pillar in the city drew widespread public attention, prompting police to register a separate case and launch an investigation to identify those responsible.
According to a Guwahati East Police official, a night patrol team apprehended the two youths while they were painting a government wall along the road leading to the Jyoti Bishnu Auditorium.
The accused have been identified as Nukul Mili, a resident of Dibrugarh, and Gaurav Singh of Dakhingaon in Guwahati. Both are students of the Government College of Art and Craft, The Assam Tribune reported.
Police said an FIR has also been registered in connection with the large mural painted on a flyover pillar, which depicts Wangchuk alongside the words "Save Sonam Wangchuk".
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Hiranya Kumar said the two youths were caught during a routine night patrol while allegedly painting on a government wall. The case was registered at Dispur Police Station.
Kumar said the two would be released after being issued a warning not to paint or alter public property without obtaining prior permission from the authorities.
According to the Deputy Commissioner, the duo told police they were not affiliated with any political party or organisation and claimed they had painted the portrait on their own.
He said unauthorised paintings on government property had become an increasing concern, stressing that public infrastructure could not be altered or damaged without official permission. He warned that strict legal action, including imprisonment where necessary, would be taken against anyone found defacing public property.
The arrests come amid Wangchuk's ongoing protest over repeated examination paper leaks. On Saturday, Delhi Police took him to Safdarjung Hospital after he completed 20 days of an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
Earlier this month, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed all district commissioners and superintendents of police not to permit unauthorised paintings on flyovers and other public infrastructure following controversy over the removal of a mural of singer Zubeen Garg during a beautification drive in Guwahati.
Meanwhile, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has warned that anyone found putting up posters or defacing government walls, electric poles, railings and other public property will face a fine of ₹5,000 as part of its campaign to keep the city clean and aesthetically appealing.
With IANS inputs