Chennai lawyers demand action against policemen

Chennai, Feb. 24 (ANI): Protesting Chennai lawyers have demanded immediate action against police officials who carried out Thursday's baton charging on lawyers in the Madras High Court premises.

Members of the Madras High Court Bar Association have decided to go on a two-day hunger protest besides submitting a petition to the State Human Rights Commission to demand appropriate action against the police for the incident.

"We are going on a fast legally and smoothly to ensure that we will get justice. What else can we do? If they don't like this type of agitation then we are even prepared to set a place and commit suicide. Is the government ready for that?" said Paul Kanaka, the President of Madras High Court Bar Association.

The lawyers' strike, which continued for the second day, paralyzed work at the Madras High Court.

The Tamil Nadu Government had announced two days closure of the courts after the clash erupted between lawyers and the policemen, leaving several lawyers with injuries.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, presently recovering from spinal cord pain, has threatened to go on hunger strike to end the crisis.

Earlier, lawyers boycotted their first round meeting with the State Law Minister Duraimurugan and said their protest would continue till action was taken against the policemen responsible for the violence.

Meanwhile, in a bid to extend their support to Chennai lawyers, the legal practitioners from across the country have decided to go on a strike on February 27.

Clashes broke out between police and lawyers when police tried to arrest two lawyers who had allegedly thrown rotten eggs on the noted lawyer and the Janata Party President, Subramanian Swamy in the courtroom on February 17.

The lawyers reportedly manhandled Swami, who enjoys Z-category security.

On February 19, a number of lawyers and reporters were injured during the police baton charge after a police post and a number of vehicles were set on fire allegedly by lawyers and turned the court premises into a battleground. (ANI)