Police-lawyers faceoff escalates in Cuttack

In yet another faceoff between police and lawyers of Cuttack, common people suffered as the lawyers on Wednesday did not attend courts in the city, including the Orissa High Court. The executive magistrate courts, including that of the District Magistrate too suffered as the lawyers picketed in front of the courts by burning tyres.

While the lawyers continued their protests throughout the day at several places around the High Court, the situation aggravated in the evening when a police vehicle was set on fire near one of the gates of the High Court. The vehicle, apparently belonging to the Bhadrak police, was completely charred as the fire tenders could not reach the spot to douse the flame.

Besides, the Odisha Bar Council called upon all lawyers of the State to abstain from their court activities on Thursday and demanded that the policemen, who allegedly beaten an advocate on Tuesday, be immediately arrested and suspended. Earlier in the morning, the Orissa High Court Bar Association had also given a similar call.

In fact, the lawyers-police confrontation began on Tuesday evening from a commotion that took place near Nuabazar following a road accident. Advocate Debi Prasad Pattnaik while driving his car had hit a little girl. Reaching the spot, police tried to calm the situation, but a scuffle ensued between Patnaik and the policemen and then Patnaik was taken to the Chauliaganj police station.

But when words spread that a lawyer was brutally assaulted by police, hundreds of city advocates rushed to the police station and gheraoed it late on the Tuesday evening. They demanded that the policemen, who assaulted the advocate, be arrested immediately and placed under suspension.

Briefing reporters, Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said at least three cases have been registered in this connection, including that of the incident pertaining to the torching of the police vehicle. Appealing to the advocates to maintain calm, Mohanty said an Additional DCP-level officer has been entrusted to inquire into the whole incident and file a report within 48 hours. “The investigations into the cases registered shall be impartial,” Mohanty assured.