Lawyers, police clash at Ghaziabad court complex, security stepped up

GHAZIABAD: Hours after a lawyer from the Ghaziabad district court was allegedly assaulted by policemen at Vijay Nagar police station late Wednesday night, the Ghaziabad police and lawyers entered into a clash at the court complex on Thursday afternoon.

Police said Thursday’s incident was triggered by Wednesday night’s incident, wherein a lawyer and his accomplices allegedly beat up a dhaba owner at Tigri rou ndabout following an altercation over food. The dhaba owner, Anil Mishra, sustained 11 stitches in his head , police said.

A police team reached the spot and took the lawyer to Vijay Nagar police station. On the way to the police station, the lawyer alleged, he was manhandled by policemen. He claimed he was assaulted at the police station as well.

Senior superintendent of police (Ghaziabad), Vaibhav Krishna, said, “However, medical test showed that the lawyer was under the influence of alcohol. The police team challaned him under Section 34 of the Police Act.” On Thursday morning, dozens of lawyers arrived at the SSP’s office — which is adjacent to the court complex. There, they raised slogans and staged a protest against the police action at Vijay Nagar police station. “I assured the lawyers of action against the erring policemen. I ordered the suspension of four policemen and even registered an FIR against them. But soon clashes started at the court complex.”

Police said the clashes were initiated after the lawyers allegedly started misbehaving with a team of policemen, headed by superintendent of police (city) Akash Tomar, who had gone to the court complex to pacify the lawyers.

“Following the misbehaviour, the policemen started lathicharging the lawyers. The incident led to injuries to seven-eight lawyers,” lawyer said on condition of anonymity.