Police-lawyer Spat: Hearing in Orissa HC on October 10

Cuttack: The agitating lawyers have remained firm on their demands as they chose to continue their protests demanding action against the cops allegedly involved in assaulting a lawyer at Nuabazar area in Cuttack.

During a meeting today, the Orissa High Court Bar Association decided to continue and extend the cease-work stir stating that a decision on the future course of action would be taken during the meeting scheduled to be held next Wednesday.

This apart, the Association informed that the Orissa High Court will take up the hearing on the matter of lawyers' strike on the same day.

It may be noted here that the Orissa High Court has already asked the Crime Branch to probe the alleged incident of assault on the lawyer. Sources further claimed that a Crime Branch officer of the DSP rank will investigate the incident.

“We had furnished all necessary documents to the Court but we are yet to receive any answer. We respect the orders of the Supreme Court and the High Court, and our next meeting will be held on October 10 at 2 PM. So far we have decided to continue the cease-work agitation and the future course of action would be fixed during the next meeting,” stated Satyabrata Mohanty, Secretary of the Orissa High Court Bar Association.

On August 28, lawyer Debi Prasanna Pattnaik was allegedly beaten up by a few police personnel at Shastrinagar in Nuabazar.

Subsequently, Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police, Akhileshvar Singh suspended three police personnel including two constables- BK Samal and UK Bhuyan and Havildar PK Behera for ‘police excess.’