Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Lawyers go on the rampage in city

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE June 9. At least six policemen were injured and a police jeep was damaged when angry advocates went on a rampage through the City Civil and Sessions Court premises here this morning.

The advocates beat up a litigant, who allegedly assaulted a counsel in a family court, and roughed up several policemen, besides chasing away presspersons and snatching away a digital camera of a news photographer and a video cassette belonging to a Kannada television channel.

Tension prevailed on the court premises for more than two hours with advocates insisting that the litigant be produced in the Advocates' Association and the police refusing to do so.

Trouble began at around 11 a.m. in the Family Court of the Principal Judge, K. N. Nagendra Kumar, when the hearing was on in a divorce case between Rajan, owner of a hardware shop in Koramangala, and his wife, Roopa.

Ms. Roopa's advocate, Sriram Babu, was questioning Mr. Rajan. Mr. Babu is also Mr. Rajan's brother-in-law.

During questioning, Mr. Rajan objected to a particular question and allegedly assaulted Mr. Babu. News of this spread quickly on the City Civil and Sessions Court premises. A large number of advocates boycotted courts and gathered at the Family Court. Meanwhile, Mr. Nagendra Kumar retired to his chambers.

Unnerved by the gathering, Mr. Rajan sought shelter in the judge's chambers. The advocates demanded that Mr. Rajan be handed over to them. When the situation became tense, four policemen tried to escort Mr. Rajan out of the court.

Incensed by this, the advocates assaulted Mr. Rajan. A posse of policemen rushed to the spot and tried to persuade the advocates to disperse. The top of a police jeep was ripped apart by the advocates. Six policemen, including two inspectors, were injured in the melee.

The police had a tough time controlling the rampaging advocates, who refused to heed to the policemen's plea that Mr. Rajan was in their custody and that it would be illegal to produce him in the association premises.

Apart from using foul language, some advocates threatened media persons, including photographers, and prevented the latter from taking photographs. The police finally managed to convince the advocates to disperse. Mr. Rajan was taken to hospital. The Ulsoor Gate Police have registered a case.

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