A statue of Mahatma Gandhi in central London has been defaced with graffiti, prompting condemnation from India and a police investigation into what has been described as racially aggravated criminal damage.

The bronze monument in Tavistock Square, erected in 1968 to honour Gandhi’s years as a law student in the city, was found marked with the word: “Terrorists” alongside references to: “Gandhi, Modi, and Hindustani.” Cleaning crews from the local council were dispatched on Tuesday to remove the spray paint, while members of India’s High Commission monitored the site.

Gandhi was a central figure in the Indian independence movement, known for his promotion of non-violent resistance to British rule.

“This is not just vandalism, but a violent attack on the idea of non-violence. It is shameful,” the Indian mission said in a statement adding that it was co-ordinating with British authorities to restore the statue’s dignity. The attack came just days before Gandhi’s 156th birthday, which is today, and which is also observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers attended the scene on Sunday evening after reports of criminal damage. “Enquiries are ongoing. No arrests have been made at this time,” the force said.

The statue, created by Polish sculptor Fredda Brilliant, depicts Gandhi in simple robes seated cross-legged, with an inscription reading: “Mahatma Gandhi, 1869–1948.” It has long served as the focus of commemorations on his birthday, with floral tributes and hymn renditions held annually.

This is not the first such incident in Britain. A Gandhi statue in Leicester was also vandalised in 2014, and more recently campaigners in parts of the Britain have called for Gandhi monuments to be removed. In recent years there has been some controversy around Gandhi, with claims that he was abusive to women and had espoused racist views in the past.