Lawyers take law in their own hands

Beat up man in court premise over car parking

Beat up man in court premise over car parking

The Magistrate's court adjacent to the police headquarters turned into a battleground, as hundreds of advocates chased and beat up an accused in the court premises. The victim had allegedly beaten up an advocate on Friday over a vehicle parking issue.

Law breakers? Last year, a journalist of an English news channel was assaulted by lawyers inside the High Court premises. File pic

Tension gripped the court premises as soon as the accused Yuvaraj, son of a former under secretary, was brought to the court. The moment he was in, advocates chased the accused to the court hall and started showering him with blows .

The Chandra Layout police, who were escorting him, managed to get him inside the magistrate chamber. Following this, the advocates blocked the exit, and started shouting slogans against the cops, alleging that they were being partial to the accused. They also demanded the police officer's immediate suspicion.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot to control the situation and additional reinforcements were called. But the advocates demanded that they would not allow the accused to go out unless the authorities assure them strict action be taken against the inspector.

The situation was brought under control after Law Minister Suresh Kumar visited the spot and assured them that necessary action would be taken. However the advocates stood their ground until Yuvaraj was brought out from the chamber.

As soon as the accused was brought out, the advocates attacked him again. The police personnel finally managed to get him in their vehicle.

The incident
Prasad, an advocate, who had gone to see a doctor with his wife and child was beaten up by a group of three, including Yuvaraj, over a row on parking his car in front of their house in Chandra Layout on Saturday. Prasad received severe injuries. Despite the hospital authorities filing a complaint, the police neither visited the victim nor took any action.

Meanwhile, few of Prasad's colleagues who went to see him in the night went and filed a complaint demanding immediate action, but in vain. They later brought the matter before the president of the Advocates Association KN Putte Gowda, who in turn called up the Chandra Layout police.

However the police registered a complaint only at around midnight after advocates staged a protest in front of the police station demanding action. Reacting to the assault at the court premises Gowda said, "I do not support the attack, but you should also consider the plight of Prasad, who is in the hospital for the past three days."

Gowda added that he has informed the city police commissioner Shankar Bidari demanding immediate suspension of the police inspector. "Bidari has asked us to give the complaint in writing so that he could initiate necessary action. I am also meeting home minister in this regard," he said.

Deputy Commissioner of police (crime) SN Sidramappa said that they have taken up a complaint from the association and are verifying the details.

However Chandra Layout inspector Rajendra justified that there was no delay in the investigations. "We had arrested Yuvaraj on Sunday and produced him before the court yesterday."