Uneasy calm in TN courts as govt issues shoot-at-sight orders

Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued and entry of advocates into court complexes banned to contain spread of the protests even as there was no fresh incident of violence in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

Reports received from various parts of the state said after two days of unrest there was no incident or protest by advocates on Saturday, as the courts remained closed for the weekend.

The government ordered the transfer of M Ramasubramani, joint commissioner (North), under whose jurisdiction the high
court falls.

Sporadic incidents of torching of government vehicles and protests by lawyers were reported from many areas of the state
on Friday, though the courts remained closed.

An announcement from the DGP's office said anti-social elements and miscreants were using the lawyers' agitation as an excuse to damage public property and burn vehicles. Action would be taken against those who try to damage vehicles or involve in other illegal activities, it said.

The advocates were protesting the police action on February 19 during the violence in the high court which left over 100 people, including a judge, lawyers and policemen, injured.

Continuing its crackdown on advocates, police registered cases against those who indulged in violence during Friday's protests in Chennai and Madurai.