Lawyers, police fight pitched battles in Madras High Court

Advocates protesting against the arrest of their colleagues in an assault case fought pitched battles with police personnel for several hours on Thursday. While a police station was set ablaze by the advocates, vehicles parked in the court complex were smashed by the policemen. Among those injured in the violence was a High Court judge, more than 50 lawyers and several policemen.

Police burst teargas shells to disperse the agitating lawyers. High Court judges who came to the premises to see the damage caused to advocates' vehicles had to run when they were confronted by lathi-wielding policemen. Fire fighters who tried to put out the flames engulfing the police station were attacked by the advocates.

The chain of events was set off by the police attempt to arrest a group of advocates involved in the attack on Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and some policemen in the court complex on Tuesday. A group of advocates demanded that Dr. Swamy be also arrested for abusing one of their colleagues on caste lines.

Heated arguments ended in violence. A group of lawyers, which was near the building housing the Family Courts, and the policemen, positioned near the High Court station, began throwing stones and bottles at each other.

The Hindu