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Lawyers, students clash, block roads
Angry lawyers upset over the alleged beating of two of their colleagues hurled brickbats at some students and the latter returned the same in a free-for-all near the Collectorate this afternoon.
Angry lawyers upset over the alleged beating of two of their colleagues hurled brickbats at some students and the latter returned the same in a free-for-all near the Collectorate this afternoon.
Later protesting against what they termed as unruly behaviour of the students the lawyers staged a two- hour road blockade in front of the Collectorate.
The blockade was lifted by the lawyers following assurance by the police that action would be taken in case students were found guilty. However, police acceded to the immediate demand of the lawyers to seal 'Achche lodge' from where the students came to create the alleged strife. Lawyers also demanded search of all rooms occupied by students of this lodge alleging stocking of bombs and pistols by the students. They also accused the students of exploding bombs and firing in the air during the scuffle with them.
The genesis of the scuffle is reported to have begun at the post office near the Collectorate when some students entered into an argument with two lawyers over the issue of standing in a queue. The argument turned sour and the students allegedly beat up the two lawyers who had gone to the post office for some work.
Getting humiliated at the hands of the students these lawyers rushed to their colleagues' sheds nearby to tell their tale of woes. Within no time about 100 lawyers gathered at the spot and allegedly hurled brickbats at the students.
Soon many other students joined their colleagues as Achche lodge is in close proximity to the Collectorate.
Though cops came soon after but the warring factions refused to listen to their plea for calm. In protest the lawyers staged the road blockade which lasted for over two hours. The blockade disturbed the flow of traffic on the road and commuters were forced to follow a circuitous route.
On the pressure of lawyers the police took four inmates of Achche lodge into custody for interrogation at the police station.
However, their arrest sparked off strong protest from the students who walked up to the Hindu Hostel crossing and staged a road blockade on the Thornhill Road. Led by student leader Anand Kumar Singh they handed over a memorandum to SP Trans-Ganga who had reached the spot demanding immediate release of the arrested students and action against the lawyers whom they accused of indulging in rowdyism and assault.
The students relented and called off the road blockade after the SP assured to release the students taken into police custody and action against the erring lawyers.
