Madras HC blames top cops for clash with lawyers

The Madras High Court held four top police officers, including then City Police Commissioner K Radhakrishnan, as squarely responsible for the February 19 police-lawyers clash in which several advocates and police personnel were injured.

The Madras High Court on Thursday held four top police officers, including then City Police Commissioner K Radhakrishnan, as "squarely responsible" for the February 19 police-lawyers clash in which several advocates and police personnel were injured.

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A division bench of the court said the state government could exercise its discretion in the matter of suspending the officers pending disciplinary action against them.

The century-old Madras High Court premises had virtually turned into a war zone when large number of advocates, agitating on Sri Lankan Tamils issue, clashed with police over arrest of some lawyers accused of assaulting Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy.

A judge, many police personnel and advocates, including some women, were injured in stone-throwing incidents and the subsequent lathicharge by police.