BANGALORE: After abstaining from court proceedings for 18 days, the striking advocates finally called off their boycott and would resume work from Wednesday, following the transfer of a DCP, and an ACP, and the issue of show-cause notices to a DCP and three ACPs in connection with the riots at City Civil Court Complex on March 2.
Home Minister R Ashok made the announcement after a visit to the court complex in Bangalore on Tuesday. “The government’s decision was taken on the basis of a report submitted by CID DGP R K Datta, which makes clear mention about the dereliction of duty by the said officers,” Ashok added.
Dr G Ramesh, DCP of central division, has been transferred as DCP of North-East division, while North East Division DCP B R Ravikanthe Gowda has been transferred as DCP of central division. K N Jeethendranath, who was ACP of Ulsoor Gate sub-division, has been transferred to Central Crime Branch, while ACP Nyama Gouda, who was in CCB, will be replacing Jeethendranath.
Following the transfers, president of Advocates Association of Bangalore (AAB) K N Subba Reddy announced the calling off of the strike, stating that he would take part in court proceedings from Wednesday.
However, he said that they would wait for five more days to decide on further action if the government does not initiate action against other policemen. The transfer order came a few hours after CID DGP R K Datta, who was deputed to conduct an internal probe into the matter, submitted his report on Tuesday.
Earlier, around 5,000 advocates had gathered on the court premises as the AAB had given a call to besiege the Vidhana Soudha. However, as the budget session started on Tuesday, police had clamped prohibitory orders near Vidhana Soudha.