People seeking legal help suffered on Wednesday as lawyers in Cuttack city did not attend any of the judicial courts, including the High Court. They were protesting against alleged police atrocities on an advocate on Tuesday.
Work suffered in executive and district magistrate courts as the agitating lawyers picketed in front of them and burnt tyres.
While the lawyers continued their protest throughout the day, the situation worsened in the evening when a police vehicle was torched near one of the gates of the High Court. The vehicle, which belonged to the Bhadrak police, was completely charred as fire tenders could not reach the spot.
The Odisha Bar Council gave a call to all advocates of the State to abstain from their courts activities on Thursday and demanded that the policemen, who had allegedly beaten up the advocate in Cuttack, be immediately suspended and arrested. Earlier in the morning, the Orissa High Court Bar Association had also given a similar call.
Face-off
The lawyers-police confrontation started on Tuesday evening when advocate Debi Prasad Pattnaik, while driving his car, hit a small girl near Nuabazar. The police were called to the spot and a scuffle ensued between Mr. Patnaik and the policemen. The advocate was taken to Chauliaganj police station.
Soon, the word spread that the advocate had been brutally assaulted by the policemen, triggering rage among city lawyers who rushed to the police station and gheraoed it till late on Tuesday night.
Briefing newsmen, Twin City Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said at least three cases have registered in connection with the incident, including one pertaining to the torching of the police vehicle. Appealing to the advocates to maintain calm, Mr. Mohanty said an Additional DCP-level officer has been entrusted to enquire into the incident and file a report within 48 hours. “The investigations into the cases registered shall be impartial,” Mr. Mohanty assured.
