Police-lawyer spat: Lawyers to launch statewide agitation

Cuttack: Upping the ante against cops involved in assaulting a lawyer in Cuttack, the State lawyers' association has decided to observe a statewide cease-work stir till Wednesday.

In a meeting of the lawyers' association at the Orissa High Court Bar Association building today, a decision was taken to extend their agitation to all parts of the state. Moreover, a delegation will call on the Chief Minister, Law Minister and Chief Justice of the Orissa HC to discuss the matter.

The Orissa High Court has already asked the Crime Branch to probe into the alleged incident of assault of a lawyer by police personnel at Nuabazar in Cuttack.

As per the direction, a DSP rank officer of the Crime Branch will investigate the incident.

On August 28, lawyer Debi Prasanna Pattnaik was allegedly beaten up in public view at Shastrinagar in Nuabazar by a few police personnel. Next day, a police vehicle parked near Revenue Divisional Commissioner's (RDC) office was torched during a High Court Bar Association protest against the incident.

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