Protests After Lawyer’s Death in Police Firing at Court in Uttar Pradesh

Lawyers in Uttar Pradesh are on strike today, a day after a policeman fired his gun at a court in Allahabad and shot dead a lawyer.

The state government on Wednesday announced Rs. 10 lakh as compensation for the lawyer’s family but the Uttar Pradesh Bar Association has demanded five times that amount.

The policeman, a Sub Inspector, fired his gun after lawyers threatened to beat him up following an altercation. He has not been arrested so far, though a case of murder has been registered against him. The lawyers are also demanding the transfer of the District Magistrate and senior police officials in Allahabad, accusing them of failing to ensure security on court premises.

Yesterday, angry lawyers torched vehicles and 10 people were injured when the police resorted to a lathi charge. A large number of Rapid Action Force personnel and local policemen have been deployed at the court.