HC bench in Berhampur issue: Police lashes lathi on lawyers

Berhampur : The peaceful demand for permanent HC bench at Berhampur turned violent as security forces lashes lathis on agitation lawyers on Tuesday at court premises in Berhampur. As per the order of the High Court, the police under the direct supervision of Ganjam SP Debadatta Singh have opened the court premises at around 9.30 am , before the scheduled time on Tuesday when there were no lawyer present. Earlier the high court had ordered police to open the court using minimum of force, as the agitating lawyers have been continuing their stir since Dec 04, demanding a permanent high court bench at Berhampur. Lawyers were surprised, when the turned to the court on 10 am when they saw the court premises opened at presence of as many as 16 platoons of police and other high ranking officials including the Ganjam SP DD Singh, SDPO Chhatrapur, A Sahu, DSPs and several magistrates. The agitating lawyers as a part of their protest, after reaching at the court entered into the court premises, peacefully. However, when the lawyers reached near the district judge's office, the security forces confronted with the lawyers following, which a tussle took place. Afterwards, the police resorted to lathi charge. Even, the higher-ranking police officials were heard using filthy language while ordering the lathi charge. The police forces have also allegedly ransacked chairs and tables of the Bar Association. At least 25 to30 lawyers including former bar president SS Panda and state bar council member Deepak Patniak have sustained injuries. Meanwhile the police have detained 6 lawyers from the court premises and 3 others from near the bar association hall. They have been sent to the Ambapua police and being held captive. Patnaik, alleged that the police have acted inhumanly on the lawyers and resorted to lathi charge brutally by crossing all limits as they went on biting intentionally even after the lawyers were protesting peacefully at the court premises. Patniak who has sustained injuries near his neck and backbone told over phone from the police captive point at Ambapua that they would lodge FIRs against these police officials including Ganjam SP DD Singh, SDPO A Sahoo, DSP D Jena and Town Police Station IIC A Nayak. The lawyers have alleged that the police have not allowed the doctors to treat the injured lawyers, when the Bar Association President SN Rath asked for. Situation in Berhampur remains tense, as hundreds of lawyers were present near the sub collector’s office and blocking the national highway-217 by burning tiers. They have also not allowed anyone through the way, which created inconvenience to public for hours. All most all the shops near the court premises along the national highway remained closed following the violent on Tuesday. The lawyers have been agitating since Dec 04, demanding a permanent bench of the high court at Berhampur.
www.odishatoday.com
By Shantanu Barad
Last updated: 04/22/2008 23:12:45