New Delhi: A scuffle broke out between Delhi Police and lawyers at Tis Hazari court in the national capital on Saturday. One lawyer got injured in the incident who is now admitted to the St Stephen's Hospital. The scuffle soon escalated into a full-blown clash during which a police van was also set ablaze and people were injured.

An instance of firing was also reported from the spot. As per the report, lawyers accused the police of firing at them, but the police are yet to respond to the allegation.

Eyewitnesses said there was an argument between some lawyers and police personnel reportedly over a parking issue which turned ugly. However, the exact cause is yet to be ascertained, officials said.

Bar Associations condemned the incident and called a one-day strike across all district courts in the national capital on November 4.

Watch | Clash breaks out between lawyers, police at Tis Hazari Court



The situation at the spot is tensed. The police have locked a few gates to prevent miscreants from entering the premises. A huge posse of police and anti-riot vehicles were deployed at the site after the violence.

Meanwhile, lawyers sat on a protest at the gate of the court premises, alleging that police personnel had opened fire during the incident and demanded action against those responsible.

Secretary of Tis Hazari Bar Association Jaiveer Singh Chauhan told PTI that a lawyer's car allegedly hit a police jail van following which an argument broke out between him and the police. "He was then taken inside a lockup and beaten up badly. The SHO came but was not allowed inside. The district judges of the central and west district, along with six other judges went there but were unable to let the lawyer out," Chauhan alleged.

He further claimed that after about 20 minutes, the police fired four rounds of bullets while the judges were leaving the spot. He claimed that one of the lawyers, Ranjeet Singh Malik, who was protesting outside along with others, suffered a bullet injury. The injured lawyers were rushed to St. Stephen's hospital here, he said. "The police manhandled the lawyers. This was an incident of complete negligence by the police," Chauhan alleged. The lawyer was released from the lockup after about half an hour, he claimed.

A police vehicle was set on fire and eight others were vandalised during the fracas, the officials said, adding that the Fire Department dispatched ten fire tenders to the spot.

Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra visited the court complex along with party members and called for action against the personnel involved in the clash.


K C Mittal, Chairman of Bar Council of Delhi, said, "We strongly condemn the brutal and unprovoked attack on lawyers by police at Tis Hazari Court. One lawyer is critical. A young lawyer was beaten in lockup, a high-handedness of the police. They should be dismissed and prosecuted. We stand with Delhi lawyers."