Mangaluru: After an alleged assault made by a policeman on a lawyer, a group of advocates held a flash protest on Friday evening in front of the Kadri Police station July 31.
According to the reports, advocate Uttam Rai had gone to the Kadri police station along with his client to discuss a case. Inspector T D Nagaraj reportedly said he would speak to the client alone, to which the lawyer raised an objection.
As per Rai, inspector Nagaraj abused him and assaulted him so that he would leave the station. On the other hand, the cop alleged that it was Rai who hit the inspector first.
Following the incident, lawyers gathered at the police station within hours and demanded action against the inspector.
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 added that he did not know that Uttam Rai who accompanied Ratnakar was a lawyer. Moreover Nagraj admitted that he had told Rai to stand out while he talks to Ratnakar, but he refused, he said.
Further Nagaraj asked Ratnakar to come back at 5 pm, to which his lawyer Rai objected and insisted that the investigation should be done right away, he said.
It’s been reported 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 was enraged and arrested the lawyer, it is said.
As soon as the lawyers began protesting 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.
