Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Updated
Mangaluru, Jul 31: Following protest by lawyers for his alleged assault on a collegue here on Friday July 31, Kadri police inspector T D Nagaraj has been suspended.
Police commissioner S Murugan has issued the order for his suspension, sources said.
Also, Mangaluru bar association president Chengappa informed that a case under non-bailable charges has been registered against T D Nagaraj in Urwa police station. At first, the police had said that a case would be filed on Saturday August 1, but the lawyers refused to delay the procedure and the case was filed by late evening.
It was alleged that Nagaraj had detained and assaulted lawyer Uttam Rai after the latter refused to let the inspector speak to his client alone in Kadri police station. Soon after the incident occured, lawyers gathered at Kadri police station and demanded Nagaraj's suspension.
However, the protesting lawyers were not satisfied with the suspension and demanded Nagaraj's arrest.
Chengappa also warned that any lawyer who comes forward to represent T D Nagaraj would be removed from the bar association.
Chairman of Karnataka State Bar Council P P Hegde who arrived at the spot said, "Inspector Nagaraj has behaved like an animal and he cannot be forgiven. Uttam Rai is not a criminal and putting him inside a cell and beating him up was not correct. He should be punished."
Earlier Report
Mangaluru: Protest at Kadri police station as cop allegedly assaults lawyer
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Jul 31: Chaos prevailed at the premises of Kadri police station here on Friday July 31 after lawyers held a flash protest alleging that a cop had assaulted their colleague.
It is said that advocate Uttam Rai had gone to the Kadri police station along with his client regarding some case. Inspector T D Nagaraj reportedly said he would speak to the client alone, to which the lawyer objected.
The lawyers alleged that inspector Nagaraj used abusive languaged to send Rai out of the police station and assaulted him.
On the other hand, the police alleged that it was Rai who hit the inspector first.
As soon as the incident took place, lawyers gathered at the police station and demanded action against the inspector.
Speaking to daijiworld, inspector Nagaraj said that the police had received a letter in which some allegations were made against Bhuvi Enterprises. To investigate, inspector Nagaraj called Ratnakar of Bhuvi Enterprises to the police station on Friday. Nagaraj further said that he did not know that Uttam Rai who accompanied Ratnakar was a lawyer. "When I questioned them, I came to know Uttam Rai was the lawyer. I told him to stand out while I talk to Ratnakar, but he refused. As it was lunch time I asked Ratnakar to come back at 5 pm, to which his lawyer objected and insisted that the investigation should be done right away," he said.
It is learnt that when the inspector was walking out of his chamber, Uttam Rai blocked his way by raising his arm and waving, and inadvertently hit the inspector. The cop grew angry at this and detained the lawyer, it is said.
Even as the lawyers protested outside the police station demanding Nagaraj's suspension, president of Mangaluru bar association Chengappa arrived and held talks with ACP Thilakchandra and other police officials.
Dinakar Shetty, a member of Mangaluru bar association said, "This is a bad news for lawyers. The lawyer had come to the police station along with his client to do his duty. Inspector Nagaraj's action is shameful. Police should have patience. Uttam Rai was put inside a cell in the police station and three policemen beat him up. He is badly injured.
"Our lawyer went to the police station in order to provide justice. Uttam Rai is a nice person. He is a civil lawyer. The police have beaten him up as if he were a criminal," he added.
The lawyers took Uttam Rai to hospital, it is learnt. The protesting lawyers along with Chengappa demanded that police commissioner S Murugan visit the spot.
Demanding immediate suspension of inspector Nagaraj, Chengappa said that lawyers would hold a protest in the city on Saturday August 1 and that matter has already been informed to higher authorities in Bengaluru. "The inspector should be suspended immediately, arrested and produced in court. Till then we will continue to protest," he added.
DCP (law and order) Shantaraju who arrived at the spot tried to calm down the protestors and assured that he would talk to the police commissioner about the suspension of Nagaraj and three other cops who allegedly beat up the lawyer.
The lawyers may file a case in Urwa police station, sources said.