BANGALORE: As lawyers ran riot, police seemed to be awaiting orders from higher-ups. Questions of intelligence failure were raised. “We had intelligence and hence, made elaborate arrangements. However, the situation went out of control,” said Police Commissioner B Jyoti Prakash Mirji.
Denying pressure, Mirji said, “We are under no pressure. Nobody has forced us to act or not act in any situation.” The policemen were let down by their senior officers, who did not let them take on the advocates “legally”.
A police sub-inspector, on condition of anonymity, said the police actually wanted to put the unruly lawyers in their place as it was the second time the advocates had taken them for granted.
“Even in January, when they went on a rampage, our officers did not make up their minds. Even today, they attacked journalists and policemen in front of our officers, who were not willing to order the lathicharge. It’s the violent situation that prompted police to lathicharge the lawyers,” he explained.
The policemen were disturbed when rumours of a KSRP constable having succumbed to injuries did the rounds. Angry policemen were ready to ‘attack’ lawyers but their hands were tied by higher ups who chanted peace. A few policemen in the control rooms expressed anger on wireless over Mirji’s passiveness.