The Hindu : Front Page : Lawyers stage protests in Tamil Nadu

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Saturday, Feb 21, 2009
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Lawyers stage protests in Tamil Nadu

S. Vijay Kumar

Vehicles set ablaze in Chennai, other places; tension again on High Court campus

Photo: K. Pichumani

CONTINUING turmoil: Lawyers and police personnel in a face-off near the War Memorial in Chennai on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Lawyers across Tamil Nadu staged protests on Friday, condemning “police excesses” during the clash on the Madras High Court premises on Thursday. While a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus was torched in Tirunelveli, a jeep belonging to the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services Department was set ablaze in Chennai on Friday.

Violent protests were reported from Nagercoil, where a car parked on the district court premises was burnt. Three State-owned buses were damaged in a fire in Madurai late on Thursday.

Advocates staged protests in almost all district headquarters.

The Chennai Police registered a case of attempt to murder against 150 lawyers in connection with the violence on the High Court campus.

While no arrest was made till late on Friday, Tamil Nadu Director General of Police K.P. Jain said the case had been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The advocates were booked under various Sections of IPC and Section 3 (1) of the Tamil Nadu Public Property Damage and Loss Act.

According to police sources, tension prevailed on the High Court campus on Friday, even as a holiday was declared. A group of lawyers set ablaze the High Court police station again and fire fighters were prevented from entering the premises.

Commissioner of Police K. Radhakrishnan said some lawyers attempted to stage a stay-in protest, but were pacified and asked to vacate the court complex.

After several checks, police took control of the premises. This would continue until further orders, he said.

Over 100 advocates, who tried to take out a procession from the High Court to the Secretariat, were intercepted at the War Memorial and taken into custody. They were released later. Some lawyers forced the closure of shops around the court premises, the sources said.

122 policemen injured

Mr. Radhakrishnan said about 122 police personnel, including women, were injured in stone- throwing. The condition of one head constable was stated to be serious.

Explaining the circumstances that led to the clash on Thursday, he said the advocates started attacking the police without any provocation.

“We only exercised the right of private defence under extreme provocation …had the police not acted in time, there could have been more damage and loss of life. We had information that some lawyers were planning to set on fire some other buildings in the High Court,” he told The Hindu.

Supreme Court hurt at unruly behaviour

A law unto themselves — Editorial

In pics — Violence in Madras High Court

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