Events have been steadily getting out of hand in Chennai over the past week as lawyers protest the arrest of one of their colleagues in a demonstration against..
Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy
IBN Live network in Tamil Nadu reports:
The Madras High Court had on Thursday witnessed heavy clashes between lawyers and the police.
Lawyers were protesting the arrest of one of their colleague for attacking Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy. The lawyers also burnt down a police picket inside the court premises.
A group of lawyers pelted Swamy with eggs on Monday (February 16) inside the Madras High Court campus when he had gone for a 15-year-old case.
The legal community had called for a boycott on the Sri Lankan Tamil crisis on Monday.
Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan has condemned the violence. He said: "It is very unfortunate and shocking that something like this has happened. I condemn the attacks."
However, the Supreme Court Bar Association has expressed solidarity with the lawyers and demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident.
President Supreme Court Bar Association, T H Parekh said, "The Supreme Court Bar Association strongly condemns the atrocities by Chennai Police in beating the lawyers and judges, looting the chamber, dragging lawyer from the chambers, damaging the vehicles and the court hall. We extend our solidarity and support to the lawyers. We need judiciary enquiry into the aspect and people who caused this serious incident should be punished."
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court orders closure of all courts in Tamil Nadu.
See the full report here http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lawyers-on-warpath-shootatsight-in-tamil-nadu/85936-3.html
and if you are in doubt about the extent of the violence you need only see this You Tube clip. If this happened at Inns of Court or Philip St (Sydney) it’d be flashed around the world in minutes.
Short TV report in English on You Tube