Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been accused of pulling down a statue of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Tripura state. Monday's incident happened days after the party swept elections in the north-eastern state, dislodging the Communist government after 25 years. The five-year-old statue in Belonia town was removed with the help of an excavator as supporters cheered. There have been clashes between BJP and Communist party workers in the state. The NDTV news channel quoted eyewitnesses as saying the excavator which brought down the statue was hired by BJP workers.