Lawyers attack cops again

The ghosts of the March 2 City Civil Courts Complex mayhem returned on Tuesday to haunt the City, when a woman police constable and a head constable were attacked, allegedly by a group of advocates at the VI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate  Court. 

The Advocates Association was quick to condemn the incident and dubbed it as the handiwork of certain “black sheep” who were against the withdrawal of the court boycott. 

Ulsoor Gate police head constable Basavaraj and Roopa, a woman constable, were producing an accused person in the ACMM Court, when a group of about 20 advocates allegedly assaulted them, declaring that they had “taught the police a lesson and wouldn’t allow them to enter the court premises”. 

Basavaraj told Deccan Herald: “A group of advocates surrounded us in the court corridors, when we were there to produce an accused in connection with a case. They abused us using foul language and repeatedly slapped me. When I fell down, they kicked me hard in the stomach and also tore my uniform.’

Basavaraj sustained injuries on the chin, nose, head and was shifted to the Mallya Hospital for treatment. 

The advocates are also alleged to have manhandled the woman constable, Roopa. She later told the police that the men even tried to disrobe her. 

An added provocation, it is learnt, was that the duo was from the Ulsoorgate police station, whose jurisdiction covers the City Civil Courts complex. 

It may be recalled that  Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Ramesh and Jitendranath, the then ACP Ulsoorgate sub-division were transferred based on the R K Dutta committee report. All the cases that were filed against the advocates in connection with the March 2 episode are being pursued by the Ulsoorgate police. 

Khader Khan, who was being taken to the Court by the two assaulted police personnel, told Deccan Herald: “When I was being taken to the court, a group of 30-40 lawyers ran towards us screaming and took Basavaraj, who was holding me, aside and assaulted him. I was then with constable Roopa. The advocates behaved shabbily with the woman constable. In the melee, some men even suggested that I escape from police custody.’ 

A case has been registered at the Ulsoorgate police station under sections 353, 354, 506, 149, 142, 143, read with 149 IPC. Ravikante Gowda, DCP Central, said the advocate who led Tuesday evening’s assault was identified. Teams are on the lookout for him and others, and they would be arrested soon.

AAB condemns incident

Advocates Association Bangalore (AAB) Secretary A P Ranganath said his organisation “strongly condemns” the attack. He said “black sheep” and “vested interests” who did not want the court proceedings boycott call to be withdrawn and conflict resolved were responsible for the attack. 

Ranganath suspected a political conspiracy behind the continuing standoff and also in Tuesday night’s flare-up. 

He said the association would take “very stern” action against and even debar those found guilty of the Tuesday episode if they were identified. Such lawyers wouldn’t be defended and the Association would welcome legal action by the police in this case, he addded.