"Some unidentified youths this noon damaged one of the marble statues of former CM Mayawati using a hammer and then fled from the spot," a senior police officer said.
The miscreants broke the head and damaged the arms of the nearly four-feet high statue of the BSP supremo and former UP Chief Minister installed at the Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal, he said.
A little known political outfit Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena claimed responsibility for the incident, saying it was their way of expressing their anger over scams which took place under the Mayawati regime.
Even as the BSP alleged that it was the handiwork of SP workers, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav condemned the incident and claimed it was a planned conspiracy to vitiate the harmonious atmosphere of the state.
"The CM has directed that the damaged statue be repaired immediately and stern action be taken against those involved in the incident," an official spokesman said.
A number of pamphlets of Uttar Pradesh Nav Nirman Sena were found on the spot and police suspect it to be their handiwork.
"The matter is being investigated...Information is being collected about Nav Nirman Sena and who are its office-bearers," IG Lucknow Ashutosh Pandey said.