Shillong: The Directorate of Arts and Culture plans to immediately restore the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose statue at R&R Colony. Unidentified vandals desecrated the landmark during a KSU black-flag bike rally held on August 19. It was a targeted act of destruction.
A review meeting took place on August 21 in the office chamber of the Director of Arts and Culture. Attendees assessed the damaged statue and the surrounding civil works. The department moved quickly to authorize repairs.
The agency will prioritize administrative approvals to speed up the work. "The department decided to take necessary steps for the restoration and re-installation of the Netaji statue," officials noted in a statement.
The R&R Colony Welfare Society is stepping up as well. They will manage the repair of the nearby Swami Vivekananda statue. The group works alongside the Arts and Culture Department to ensure the site is fully restored.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 5:46am
Arts and Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai confirmed Tuesday the government will lead the renovation of both statues in Umpling. He condemned the vandalism, calling the desecration of national figures a deep regret that stunts state progress.
Shullai called on students and youth to ditch the violence and focus on the values these leaders taught. "As a civilized society, people should ensure that all forms of protest remain peaceful," he said.
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