R'than govt transfers Jaipur police chief, lawyers end strike

Buckling under the pressure of the striking lawyers, the Rajasthan government has finally transferred Jaipur police commissioner B L Soni as director of the Police Academy.

The lawyers reached an understanding after chief minister Ashok Gehlot held a meeting with Bar Council of India members and representatives of agitating lawyers.

After the meeting that lasted over a midnight, council of Rajasthan president Sanjay Sharma called off the strike.

The lawyers were on the strike since last week protesting police action against them.

According to sources, senior police officer posted in the commissionerate Raghuveer Saini has been transferred to Discom, Jaipur, and police officers Yogesh Yadav, Narayan Lal and Ravi have been posted out of the police commissionerate here.

Additional police commissioner Biju George Joseph will hold Soni’s post till further orders, said a government spokesperson.

The lawyers had been demanding that Soni and police officers, who had baton charged them on March 6 while they were ‘peacefully’ protesting for better remuneration, should be suspended from their duties.

They have also been demanding better remuneration and cheaper accommodation among other demands.

Violent protests had erupted after the agitating lawyers were baton charged by police when they tried to march towards Rajasthan Assembly.