Protest by advocates throws traffic out of gear at K.R. Circle

Protest by advocates throws traffic out of gear at K.R. Circle

The Hindu

BANGALORE: Traffic was thrown out of gear for four hours in the central parts of the city on Saturday as hundreds of advocates blocked the busy K.R. Circle demanding action against a woman Sub-Inspector of Police for allegedly misbehaving with an advocate.

The protesting advocates squatted on the road and raised slogans against the police.

They chased away motorists and allegedly manhandled a couple of drivers who tried to pass through K.R. Circle.

Around 11.30 a.m. the advocates came in a procession from the city civil court and blocked K.R. Circle. They demanded the suspension of Sub-Inspector, Sathyavathi, attached to Upparpet traffic sub-division.

The demonstration at K.R. Circle led to traffic jams on Kempegowda Road, Seshadri Road, Palace Road, Subedhar Chatram Road, Avenue Road, Ananda Rao Circle and adjoining roads.

Though the police diverted vehicles and allowed traffic on either sides on one-ways, including Kempegowda Road, it was a bumper-to-bumper ride on many roads. Buses and autorickshaws were diverted into Cubbon Park.

For nearly four hours not a single vehicle passed on Nrupathunga Road, Seshadri Road and Old Post Office Road.

The three roads wore a deserted look. Similar was the situation on the stretch of road from K.R. Circle to Vidhana Soudha.

Hundreds of people commuting by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses got down at various junctions and walked long distances to reach their destinations. Following the agitation by the lawyers, work at several courts in the city was affected.

There were tense moments at K.R. Circle as protestors tried to force their way towards Vidhana Soudha. They refused to disperse until the Sub-Inspector is suspended.

The photojournalists and cameramen protested the "unprovoked" assault on them and forced the advocates to move away from the middle of the K.R. Circle to Old Post Office Road.

Immediately, the police allowed the vehicles towards K.R. Circle. Subsequently, the advocates dispersed around 2.30 p.m.

The Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), H.C. Kishorechandra, told The Hindu that on August 1, Ms. Sathyavathi had issued a notice to an advocate, Govind, for allegedly violating certain provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

When he came to the police station to pay the fine, there was an altercation between the advocate and the Sub-Inspector.

Following this, Ms. Sathyavathi lodged a complaint against Govind that she had abused her by caste. Subsequently, she withdrew the complaint. Later, Govind filed a complaint with the Upparpet police that Ms. Sathyavathi had instigated some autorickshaw drivers to assault him. This was followed by another complaint by Ms. Sathyavathi that Mr. Govind assaulted her and tore her shirt, Mr. Kishorechandra said.

Probe ordered

An inquiry has been ordered into the alleged heated exchange between two advocates and Ms. Sathyavathi. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic West), Basavaraj Malagatti, will inquire into the incident.