×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

2 days after clash, cops have their hands full

Cases continue to be registered; no. of damaged vehicles touches 45
Last Updated 04 March 2012, 19:56 IST

Cases continued to be registered at the Halasuru Gate police station on Sunday, two days after the clashes at the City Civil Court complex on Friday. Private citizens also kept making calls to the police station about damages to vehicles.

Cases were being registered of grievous injuries being sustained by people. Meanwhile, the police have managed to get the judicial custody of the four arrested ‘ring leaders’ of the rioting lawyers till March 15. However, the fifth lawyer, Somesh, is yet to be arrested.

The police have registered five cases based on separate complaints lodged by five advocates in connection with the attack on them and the damage to their vehicles.

On Sunday, an advocate lodged a complaint alleging that 25 mediapersons targeted advocates and attacked them with stones near NCC office at Government Arts College premises. The police have registered a separate case in this regard. They have begun investigations into these complaints, the police said.

The actions of lawyers in resorting to rioting, assaulting mediapersons and the police at the City Civil Court Complex on Friday have resulted in cases being booked against them, with far-reaching consequences. The Bangalore police booked as many as 11 fresh cases in the past 24 hours against advocates accused of assault on the media and police on Friday.

42 cases booked

The total number of cases has now gone up to 42 with charges of rioting (Section 148 and 147 of Indian Penal Code-IPC), mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage (Section 435 of IPC), mischief causing damage (Section 427 of IPC) and attempt to murder (Section 307 of IPC).

Taking stock of the damages, amounting to crores of rupees, the police have identified nearly 45 vehicles being damaged during the riots by the lawyers. Of these, 21 vehicles are reported to be four-wheelers burnt down by an enraged mob. Eight vehicles of the police were torched during the riots, it is said.

Probe terms being drafted

It will take three to four days before the State government comes out with the terms of reference and finalises a retired judge for the judicial probe ordered into Friday’s attack by lawyers on media persons.

The terms of reference will have to be worked out carefully. Then, the chief justice of High Court of Karnataka will have to be consulted before finalising the judge who will head the probe, highly placed sources in the Home Department said.

Judicial inquiry

The opposition Congress on Sunday demanded that the judicial probe be headed by a sitting judge instead of a retired judge as announced by the State government.

A delegation led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara on Sunday met Governor H R Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum, demanding a judicial enquiry by a sitting judge into the attack.

Protest today

The Bangalore Press Club has organised a peaceful protest march from the Press Club on Monday to protest against the vandalism by advocates against mediapersons on March 2.

The Press Club termed the attack a violent assault on media for the first time in the history of the State and said that a section of advocates behaved like goons. Various media associations will participate in the march.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 04 March 2012, 19:55 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT