Jammu, Apr 1 (PTI) Four youths accused of mocking a Hindu deity were allegedly attacked by a group of right-wing-linked lawyers inside a heavily-guarded court premises here on Wednesday, prompting police to start an investigation.
However, the lawyers claimed that one of the youths was carrying a weapon and had come with the intention to harm someone inside the court.
Vishal Gupta, a lawyer, said the incident occurred near the office of the Special Mobile Magistrate (Passenger Tax) Court when four accused — Imran, Shahid, Younis and Asif, who were out on interim bail — were appearing for a hearing in the case registered against them at the Satwari police station early last month.
They were attacked by some lawyers chanting religious slogans, resulting in injuries to some of them, Gupta said, adding they managed their escape to a nearby police post.
Later, the lawyer said, the court extended their bail till April 6 and also directed a virtual hearing of the case.
Confirming the incident, an official said the police have neither recovered any weapon from the four youths nor has the CCTV footage corroborated such a claim.
Panic briefly gripped the court following the incident and an investigation is underway, he said.
The lawyers, who reportedly attacked the four, claimed that the accused were accompanied by several masked persons and one of them was even carrying a pistol to harm someone.
“It is a security lapse and needs a thorough investigation… They misbehaved with a lawyer and clashed with some other persons,” one of the lawyers said, adding that they have registered an FIR against the four while one person was also detained by police for questioning. PTI TAS TAS KSS KSS
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