Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Aug 5: Members of Mangaluru bar association led by its president S P Chengappa on Wednesday August 5 demanded the arrest of suspended Kadri police inspector T D Nagaraj for allegedly assaulting a lawyer Uttam Rai in the police station.
On August 1, the bar association had given three days' time for the arrest of inspector Nagaraj. The deadline ended on Tuesday August 4, with the police department failing to arrest the accused cop. In this regard a protest was organised at the Mangaluru court premises on Wednesday.
Addressing the protest, S P Chengappa said, "A counter case was filed by the police on Uttam Rai. Uttam attended the court and has got bail. But the police department has failed to arrest T D Nagaraj. We had given them three days time to arrest him. There was good relationship between the lawyers and police department, but T D Nagaraj has spoiled it.
"It was a very small matter, but the suspended cop made it a big issue and thrashed Uttam Rai and put him in the cell, locked him up and beat him up. Uttam was treated as a criminal by the police," he alleged.
"Not a single person is able to go to the police station as the police do not respond properly to people's problems. When there is no security for lawyers, how can we guarantee security to our clients or to the society? Nagaraj should be dismissed from his job. According the law, if an FIR is filed on anyone, he must be arrested. Law is equal to everyone. Even if the prime minister has committed a crime, he should be arrested. No one is above the law," Chengappa added.
"Uttam Rai was charged with IPC Section 353 by the police department. Kadri station has 80 staff members and in front of those 80 people, it is not possible for Uttam to beat up the police. It is a false FIR. Lot of custodial deaths are happening these days. There is no one to question it. I request the police commissioner, deputy commissioner, IGP, home minister and chief minister to arrest T D Nagaraj," he urged.
"Police had filed a counter FIR on Uttam Rai. Respecting the law, Uttam attended the court hearings and has got bail. If the suspended police T D Nagaraj has any respect for the law and the Constitution, let him surrender in the court like a man. Or else let the police department arrest him." Chengappa demanded.
He also said that the lawyers are not boycotting the court sessions. "We are not boycotting because we do not want to cause any trouble for the people who come to court. State bar council president Advocate P P Hegde has assured that if the police department does not take any action on T D Nagaraj then he would call upon the lawyers from the state to support us." he said.
Chengappa also clarified that that the lawyers were not complaining or blaming the police department and that the protest was only against the suspended policeman T D Nagaraj.
Mangaluru bar association vice-president Yashodhara Karkera, general secretary Raghavendra H V, treasurer Yatheesh and others were present.