Bandh observed in Jammu over police assault on lawyer

The strike called by Bar Association of Jammu in protest against the alleged police assault on a lawyer was observed today, with business establishments and shops downing shutters and public transport remaining off the roads in the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

The lawyers demanded action against the erring police officers, including Gandhi Nagar police station SHO Arun Jamwal, for the alleged assault on a lawyer after he was intercepted by a police team for reportedly riding a two-wheeler without the registration number plate and other documents.

Led by Bar Association president M K Bhardwaj, more than 300 lawyers, who had been striking work for the past two weeks affecting function of courts in Jammu including the high court bench, today held a vehicular rally in Jammu.

Raising anti-police and anti-government slogans, they blocked roads and later sat on a dharna at Gandhinagar.

"We are protesting against the assault of lawyer and observed the bandh. We thank all for the support," Bhardwaj told reporters. "We are demanding suspension of the erring SHO who manhandled and thrashed our colleague in full public view," he said.

"Verbally we have received the information that the SHO, along with two others, has been suspended. But nothing in pen and paper so far... We will continue our protest till our demands are met," he added.