Under attack for the alleged inaction during violence at the Patiala House court complex, Delhi Police has registered two fresh cases against "unknown persons" who carried out brazen attacks on journalists, a lawyer and JNU students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar.
While the first FIR, registered at Tilak Marg police station, is based on a complaint filed by the lawyer, who was thrashed by a group of men dressed in black robes, the second case is to probe yesterday's assault on Kumar, who was produced in the court following end of his police custody, a senior police official said.
"Both the cases were registered against unknown persons late last night under relevant IPC sections. While the first one is based on a complaint received by the police, the second case was registered after taking suo motu cognizance of the matter," the senior official said.
Yesterday, a group of persons dressed in black robes, led by a lawyer Vikram Singh Chauhan, unleashed an attack on journalists and Kumar at the Patiala House Courts complex.
Earlier on Monday, several scribes, activists, teachers and students of JNU were assaulted at the same court premises while a hearing of the sedition case was on in connection with which Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested.
Chauhan was identified as one of the perpetrators in Monday's attack too.
Before Kanhaiya was produced in the court yesterday, a group of persons dressed in lawyers' robes were seen jostling with another group of lawyers allegedly targeted for speaking in favour of the arrested student leader. One of them was allegedly assaulted, following which the police complaint was lodged.
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Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, who has been left red-faced over the developments, had claimed that Kanhaiya was not beaten up and also defended the handling of the situation by Delhi Police, saying use of "heavy force" against lawyers would have been counter-productive and inappropriate.
Referring to Monday's violence, following which two FIRs were registered by the police, Bassi told reporters that three lawyers, including V S Chauhan, and BJP MLA O P Sharma were summoned for questioning.
Sharma turned up at a police station today, where he was arrested and later bailed in connection with one of the two cases registered for Monday's incident. The three lawyers are yet to turn up.
Claiming that Kanhaiya was well-protected while being taken inside the court, the Commissioner said, "some people at the court did indulge in pulling and pushing. Some of them, in their attempt to reach this person (Kanhaiya) even hit our men.
