HC orders DIG-rank officer to probe assault of lawyer by cops

The Orissa High Court Tuesday directed the state government to handover the investigation of the cases registered in connection with the assault of a lawyer by policemen to a deputy inspector general-level officer.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice K S Jhaveri after going through a status report submitted by a deputy superintendent of police of the crime branch observed "... the investigation seems to be in very slow motion" and directed the government to handover the investigation of cases to a DIG-level officer.

Two weeks ago the high court had directed for crime branch investigation into all the FIRs registered.

The DSP in his three-page report has stated that the investigations into at least two FIRs in this connection are still in progress.

The DSP in his report has stated that more than 20 persons have been examined so far, including a section of public and police.

The report further indicated that most of the people examined have refused to say anything about the incident that took place in broad daylight on the main road of a busy market place on August 28.

"Since only two nearby shops have CCTV facilities, the footages do not throw any light on the ugly incident as the area where the incident occurred was not in the coverage area of the cameras fixed," the report said.

The striking lawyers, who are demanding arrests of the policemen for assaulting an advocate, reiterated their demand for a judicial inquiry into the whole incident.

The lawyers across the state are boycotting their respective courts since August 29, even as three policemen were placed under suspension.