Police lob teargas shells, lathicharge advocates

The trouble erupted when a section of lawyers assaulted media persons who were in the court complex to cover former minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy`s appearance before a CBI court in an illegal mining case.

Some advocates tried to prevent lensmen and mediapersons from filming the visuals of Reddy and it soon turned into ugly scenes of scuffle and wordy duel between advocates, media persons and police before violence broke out.

Besides several media persons, some police personnel including Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramesh, were injured in the stone pelting, police said.

Going on the rampage, the lawyers also pelted stones at a government college located near the court, triggering protests from students.

As the situation went out of control and advocates started throwing stones from the court building, police rushed in and resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

Top police officials, including City Police Commissioner Jyoti Prakash Mirji, rushed to the spot and were trying to bring the situation under control.

Expressing anguish over the attack, Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said stringent action will be taken against those responsible.