Mangaluru, July 31: Lawyers staged a protest at the premises of Kadri police station here alleging that one of the police had assaulted on their colleague on Friday July 31st.
It is said that advocate Uttam Rai had along with his client had visited the Kadri police station pertaining to some case. Inspector Nagaraj reportedly had said he would speak to the client alone, to which the lawyer opposed.
The lawyers alleged that inspector Nagaraj had used abusive words to send Uttam Rai out of the police station and assaulted him.
Soon after this incident took place, the lawyers gathered at Kadri police station and urged to take action against the inspector.
Speaking to the media, inspector Nagaraj said that the police had received a letter in which some allegations were made against Bhuvi Enterprises. To investigate, inspector Nagaraj asked Ratnakar of Bhuvi Enterprises to come to the police station on Friday.
Inspector Nagaraj further said that he did not know that Uttam Rai who went along with Ratnakar was a lawyer. When I questioned them, I came to know Uttam Rai was the lawyer. I asked him to wait outside when I enquire Ratnakar, but he denied. As it was time for lunch, I asked Ratnakar to come back at 5 pm, for which his lawyer objected and insisted that the investigation should be done at the moment, he said.
It is gathered that when the inspector was walking out of his chamber, Uttam Rai blocked his way by raising his arm and waving, and accidentally hit the inspector. The police grew angry at this and detained the lawyer, it is said.
The lawyers staged protest outside the police station urging for suspension of Nagaraj. They also demanded that City Police Commissioner S Murugan visit the spot.
Dinakar Shetty, one of the member of Mangaluru bar association said, this is a bad news for lawyers. The lawyer had been to the police station along with his client to do his duty. The act of Inspector Nagaraj’s is shameful. Police should possess patience. Lawyer Uttam Rai was put inside a cell in the police station and three policemen had beaten him up. He is injured badly.
Uttam Rai is a civil lawyer and is a nice person. The police have beaten him up as if he were a criminal, he said.
It is learnt that the lawyers took Uttam Rai to hospital.
SP Chengappa, President of Mangaluru bar association held discussions with ACP Thilakchandra and other police officials.
More news awaited.
