The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Police acted as agent provocateurs, says advocates association

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Tuesday, Sep 15, 2009
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Police acted as agent provocateurs, says advocates association

Special Correspondent

Reply affidavit charges the force with “arson, attempt to murder”

CHENNAI: The events on the Madras High Court premises on February 19 this year showed the utter lack of control by senior officers, including the DGP, Additional DGP and the Commissioner of Police, the Madras High Court Advocates Association has submitted before the High Court.

In his reply affidavit filed before a Division Bench, comprising Justices F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla and R. Banumathi, which is hearing petitions relating to the incidents, Association president R.C. Paul Kanagaraj stated, “If such actions can be allowed, the police force can never be called a disciplined force.” Far from maintaining law and order and ensuring peace, the police acted as “agent provocateurs and indulged in arson, attempt to murder, caused grievous hurt and various other crimes, for which they ought to be punished severely.”

The superior officers could not absolve themselves of their responsibility by merely stating that the abuse of power by their subordinates was in the heat of the moment and that action would be taken in due course after CBI enquiry.

Mr. Kanagaraj charged the police with demonstrating “utter disregard shown by the government to the High Court’s order dated March 18 to suspend two senior police officers.” From the record of proceedings in the case, it was clear that the government had deliberately tried to obstruct proceedings before the court and prevent truth from being placed before the court.

The counter of the DGP, K.P. Jain, had not disclosed the correct state of affairs. The then Additional DGP (Law and Order), T. Rajendran, had suppressed the fact that on February 19, he was the officer directly in-charge of the Special Commando Force deployed on the court premises.

Many advocates had seen him at the scene of action. There were photographs which showed him with the Commissioner of Police and the commando force when the police violence against advocates was at its peak after 5 p.m. His affidavit had falsely stated that he had nothing to do with the happenings on February 19.

Mr. Kanagaraj said that personal security officers of some of the judges were not available when the judges were beaten up by the police. Advocates had shielded the judges from police lathis, he said.

In her arguments, R.Vaigai, senior advocate, said photographs proved that there had been no threat or provocation from the advocates and that the police action was not in retaliation as claimed

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