Lawyers in Odisha capital condemn CCTV footage; call it ‘character assassination’

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, July 24:

Bhubaneswar Bar Association (BBA) lawyers today condemned the CCTV footage of Nihar Ranjan Sethi shown by the commissionerate police on July 22 and termed it ‘character assassination’ of the victim.

In a general body meeting held at BBA office here, Jayanta Kumar Mishra, secretary of Lawyers’ association said; “ The proof that the commissionerate police showed was fake. We condemn this act of the police as it is an attamept at character assassination of the concerned lawyer.”

Upping the ante on the commsionerate police, Mishra said that lawyers of the BBA will continue their cease work protest until the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) are transferred.

“We have also called all office bearers of the Bar Association of Odisha for a meeting soon to discuss the cease work and strike in their respective bars,” the lawyer added.

Mishra also demanded a judicial inquiry into the case of Sethi, a member of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association, who was allegedly beaten up by policemen late on Wednesday night while he was on his way home near Ravi Talkies square.

Sethi had complained of serious injuries inflicted by the police on his scrotum and other parts of the body. He had said one of his testicles, which got badly damaged during the police assault, had to be removed by doctors in a private nursing home where he is still undergoing treatment.

Protesting alleged police inaction in the matter, members of the Bhubaneswar bar had blocked the road and in the frenzy a police jeep was set on fire on Monday.