Youth who assaulted cop beaten up by lawyers

Lucknow, May 31 (UNI) Five brothers, who nearly crushed a senior police official in the Uttar Pradesh capital yesterday under their jeep were today beaten up by agitated lawyers at a local court.

Police said a group of lawyers started assaulting the five as soon as they were taken to the court. ''We had to intervene to save them,'' said a police official.

The accused were, meanwhile, sent to 14 days judicial custody by additional chief judicial magistrate R P Tripathi.

State Director General of Police (DGP) Bua Singh told reporters here the youth had no political connections as such. ''One of them has a case of eve-teasing registered at Kanpur.

Furious over the incident yesterday, the DGP had last night slammed Lucknow Police for slow action in the matter. ''Cops tried to intercept the jeep...we could not open fire as the area was crowded.

The entire drama lasted only eight minutes,'' he said.

The youth claiming to be kin of a senior leader of the ruling dispensation, tried to run over Circle Officer (CO) Rajesh Sahni, who had stopped their jeep fitted with red beacon and hooters.

When the policeman demanded papers of the vehicle, the youth tried to run him over. In a bid to escape, Sahni jumped on the bonnet. The identically-dressed youth later dumped him at the SSP residence after driving for over two kms. The incident sent shock waves among the residents of the UP capital and the police department.

The CO was perched on the bonnet in full view of other policemen and passers-by, much to the ire of senior police brass of the state.

Later last night, the DGP called IG (zone), DIG (range) and the SSP and criticised the district police machinery for not taking stern action against the culprits.

SSP G K Goswami told UNI this morning a case of attempt to murder and attempt to kidnap and assault a cop on duty had been registered against the five identified as Harshwardhan, Prithviraj, Rajwardhan, Narayan and Udai Pratap. They belong to Kanpur and their father is reported to be a proclaimed offender.

Meanwhile, UP Police, on the directives of the Chief Minister, would launch a fortnight-long drive against illegal use of beacons and hooters on vehicles.

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