Thousands of advocates from across the State descended on the City Civil Court complex here amid tight security on Friday to protest against alleged police brutality during the March 2 violence.
According to police estimates, around 3,000 advocates were present. Coming from Chickballapur, Koppal, Mandya among other districts, advocates gathered in the complex to lend their support to the members of the Advocates Association Bangalore, who are on an indefinite strike. Displaying posters and distributing pamphlets showing pictures of advocates who were assaulted by the police and media personnel, speakers at the event demanded that police officers and mediapersons involved in the violence be booked.
While the police were accused of using excessive force and for filing “false charges” against the advocates, speakers also accused the media of biased coverage of the violence. “The media along with the police assaulted the advocates and this was not captured by television channels… the complete story was not covered by the media,” alleged the advocates in their pamphlets. Journalists and cameramen were dissuaded from entering the complex by the police.
On March 2, during the trial of mining-baron Janardhan Reddy's trial, lawyers, reporters and police clashed on the city civil court complex, leaving scores of people injured. The advocates had since called for an boycott of courts.
On Friday, even though no policeman was present in the court complex, security was tightened in the area. About 1,500 policemen, including around 300 Rapid Action Force personnel, stood on duty around the complex. Platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, Home Guards, Paramedical and fire and emergency services were deployed in the area.
As the Police Commissioner had issued prohibitory orders between March 9 and March 18 in the area coming under 10 police stations surrounding the complex, the lawyers, on a written assurance, were allowed to gather only in the court complex, said a police official.
Police protest
It wasn't just the advocates who staged a protest. Policemen across Bangalore Urban and Rural districts sported black bands as a mark of protest against the actions of the advocates as well as against allegations of police brutality.
