Indore: Are students guilty or being made scapegoats?

Senior police officials believe the video evidence of Monday’s scuffle between advocates and two students in Indore indicates that it was a petty dispute and the charges of attempt to murder could be rectified.

Senior police officials believe the video evidence of Monday’s scuffle between advocates and two students in Indore indicates that it was a petty dispute and the charges of attempt to murder could be rectified.

Advocate Ritesh Inani lodged a complaint in Lokayukta against Tukoganj police alleging corruption in the release of Shailam from custody. (HT file)

Advocate Ritesh Inani alleged the students assaulted him on September 12 evening. The lawyers had called a strike demanding arrest of the students.

However, in the video grab captured by one of the students on his cell phone, the students are seen in their car near a café at the vicinity of the high court.

Inani is seen making a phone call and noting down the vehicle registration number, after an altercation over car parking. Moments later, some 19-20 men in white shirts are seen running towards the café and they thrash the students.

The question arises whether the accused, Shailam Khajanchi and his friend, were made scapegoats in the incident or they are guilty of murderous assault?

“We are not under any sort of pressure and we will investigate the matter as per law. We had registered a case under section 307 of IPC against hem, but after investigation a charge-sheet will be filed within the time specified under law, and then the charges can be rectified,” said a senior police officer of Indore.

Shailam’s uncle Kapil Garg told Hindustan Times whether a car key can be a potential weapon to launch murderous assault on some adult person, or is it the lawyers’ association dictating their terms on police?

“The issue has been manipulated by advocates. After beating the boys mercilessly in full public view, a large group of advocates dragged Shailam to Tukoganj police station and started demanding slapping harsh charges against the boys,” said Garg.

Prima facie the police knew the circumstances of the incident do not stand in the category of murderous assault, but to calm down the agitating lawyers, they registered an FIR under section 307 of IPC. They released Shailam, on conditional grounds, said Garg.

Inani, who is the vice-president of Indore high court bar association, lodged a complaint in Lokayukta against Tukoganj police alleging corruption in the release of Shailam from custody.

Around 85,000 advocates in the state will again abstain from court work on Monday too demanding enforcement of Lawyers’ Protection Act.

Since the lawyers’ association is backing Inani, no advocate is willing to take up the case of the boys, Garg said.

On Saturday evening, about 200 members of Agrawal community met Indore deputy general of police Santosh Kumar Singh, who had assured a fair enquiry in the matter.