Anantapur Lawyers Protest, Boycott Courts Over Alleged Police-Advocate Altercation

Hundreds of lawyers in Anantapur boycotted court proceedings and staged a protest outside the Anantapur Rural Police Station following an alleged altercation between an advocate and police personnel during a vehicle inspection. The lawyers demanded action against the Rural Circle Inspector involved in the incident and alleged that junior advocate Gautam Raju was assaulted and verbally abused during the confrontation.

According to the protesting lawyers, Raju was stopped during a vehicle check and was allegedly manhandled by police personnel after a dispute arose. They alleged that his hands and throat were held during the incident, making it difficult for him to breathe. The lawyers subsequently gathered outside the police station, demanding accountability and seeking an apology from Rural CI Srikanth Yadav.

Police presented a different account of the incident. According to police sources, Raju was stopped and asked to produce the required vehicle documents before an argument over the inspection escalated into a physical confrontation. Police sources also alleged that Raju bit the hand of CI Srikanth Yadav during the altercation. The competing accounts have become a central point of contention between the police and the protesting advocates.

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Following the confrontation, a large group of lawyers surrounded the rural police station and staged a sit-in on the road. Protesters raised slogans and demanded that the Circle Inspector come before them and personally address their concerns. The demonstration also affected traffic movement in the area as lawyers continued their protest and pressed for action over the alleged treatment of their colleague.

The situation intensified as the advocates warned that the protest could be expanded beyond Anantapur to the district and state levels if their demands were not addressed. Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrashekhar reached the protest site and attempted to pacify the lawyers and restore normalcy. However, the protesters continued to seek a clear response and accountability from the police department.

The standoff continued until late evening, with authorities holding discussions with representatives of the bar association in an effort to resolve the dispute. The incident has brought tensions between sections of the legal fraternity and police in Anantapur into focus, with lawyers demanding action over the alleged assault while police maintain that the confrontation followed an argument during a vehicle inspection. Further action is expected following discussions between the authorities and bar representatives.

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