Daijiworld Media Network - Ajmer

Ajmer, Mar 8: Chaos erupted in Ajmer on Saturday as enraged lawyers took to the streets, protesting against the death of senior advocate Purushottam Jakhetia. The agitation turned violent, leading to vandalism at City Square, Miraj Mall, and other marketplaces.

The lawyers had called for a bandh following Jakhetia’s fatal assault in Pushkar, where he was attacked by miscreants after asking them to lower loud music.

In the morning, members of the Ajmer Bar Association gathered outside the court premises, where association president Ashok Singh Rawat urged for a “peaceful” shutdown. However, tensions escalated near Ajmer Railway Station when angry lawyers, seeing shops and hotels open, forcefully shut them down, hitting shop grills with sticks and throwing away goods.

Markets in Ajmer, Pushkar, Nasirabad, and Beawar observed a near-total shutdown, with only medical stores, schools, and petrol pumps allowed to function. Despite efforts by some lawyers to calm the situation, disturbances continued in various parts of the city.

Protesters stormed liquor shops along Pushkar Road and even entered Cine World in Ajmer, where they assaulted a liquor shop operator and a youth found consuming alcohol. A tempo passing through Ramganj Square was stopped, and passengers were made to disembark.

The incident leading to the lawyer's death occurred on March 2, when a group of youths was playing loud music near a liquor shop on Budha Pushkar Road. Jakhetia, who lived nearby, objected, leading to a brutal attack by the intoxicated miscreants. He sustained severe head injuries and later succumbed while undergoing treatment.

Police have registered a case against the DJ operator and unidentified accused based on a complaint filed by Jakhetia’s nephew, Ankush.

This marks the second citywide shutdown in Ajmer within a week. On March 1, a similar protest was held against the Bijaynagar gangrape-blackmail case.