Jagatsinghpur: A statue of former Odisha Chief Minister Biju Patnaik at the Siali Beach in Odisha's Jagatsinghpur district was allegedly vandalised by unidentified miscreants late Wednesday night.

Tourists and locals who reached the beach on Thursday morning found the statue in a damaged condition. News of the incident spread quickly, triggering strong resentment among people in the area.

Locals expressed anger over the alleged vandalism at a prominent tourist destination and demanded that those responsible be identified and arrested at the earliest.

The exact circumstances behind the incident and the identity of those involved are yet to be established. Police investigation is expected to reveal the reason behind the vandalism.

Residents have also demanded stronger security arrangements and increased night patrolling at Siali Beach to prevent such incidents in the future.