A statue of Gautama Buddha was stolen from a village in Muzaffarnagar district, triggering protest by Dalits, police said on Tuesday.
The statue was stolen from Guyana Majra village on Monday, Charthawal police station SHO G C Sharma.
Soon after the news spread, angry Dalit villagers staged a protest in the western Uttar Pradesh district, police said.
Police have launched a search for the accused.