NEW DELHI, 4 September 2004 — At least 38 people were injured in Lucknow in a clash between police and lawyers over a minor accident.
Former and present chairmen of Awadh Bar Association were among those seriously injured, after being beaten badly following an altercation with police.
Following the incident, police baton-charged lawyers who took to the streets in protest. The situation is said to be tense in downtown Lucknow.
The scuffle started when former chairman of Awadh Bar Association L.P. Mishra’s vehicle hit an army vehicle. Police reached the spot and confronted him.
The argument got heated following which police beat him up.
On hearing of the incident, the current chairman of the bar association Ashok Nigam reached the spot and got involved in the fight. He too was beaten mercilessly by the police and badly injured.
As news spread, lawyers gathered and started throwing stones at the police, who in turn resorted to baton-charge. More than three dozens lawyers alongwith a few policemen were badly injured.
The bar associations of the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court have condemned the police attack.
The Uttar Pradesh state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident by a retired Supreme Court judge.
The Supreme Court yesterday asked the Bar Council of India to suggest ways to prevent public protests by lawyers and facilitate the smooth functioning of courts in the country.
The move came in the wake of public protests by a section of lawyers in Madras and other parts of Tamil Nadu.
