Lawyers Block Roads Outside IG Office, Demand Action Against Police Officers and Withdrawal of FIRs
Prayagraj: Lawyers staged a strong protest outside the office of the Inspector General of Police on Friday afternoon, raising slogans against the police administration and sitting on a road blockade that brought traffic to a complete standstill.
A large number of advocates gathered at the site and blocked the road, causing a chakka jam that paralysed movement for nearly two hours.
The protesting lawyers demanded the immediate suspension of the station house officer (SHO) of Maheshganj police station in Pratapgarh district, accusing him of serious misconduct.
They also called for the withdrawal of FIRs lodged against advocates and sought the arrest of the accused in a separate case registered at the Civil Lines police station.
According to the advocates, the police at the Maheshganj police station had registered FIRs against six to seven lawyers and filed charge-sheets following a minor dispute involving a truck driver.
They further alleged that the SHO had misbehaved with the lawyers. The protesters said they had submitted a memorandum to the IG two days earlier, demanding suspension of the SHO and cancellation of the FIRs against the advocates, but no action had been taken so far, forcing them to intensify their protest.
Separately, the lawyers alleged that in the Civil Lines area, a tyre trader had assaulted advocates. Despite the registration of an FIR in the case, the accused had not been arrested. Accusing the Civil Lines police of negligence, the lawyers demanded that the attackers be arrested within 24 hours.
Senior police officials reached the protest site amid escalating tensions. Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Manish Shandilya assured the protesting lawyers of swift and appropriate action. Following this assurance, the lawyers called off the road blockade after nearly two hours, allowing traffic to resume.
Traffic Disruption and Diversions
Due to the blockade, the road stretch from the IG office to Lohiya Chauraha remained completely closed. Long queues of vehicles quickly built up on Thornhill Road.
To ease the situation, the police diverted traffic via the Rajapur route. However, the sudden increase in vehicular movement on this route led to traffic congestion there as well.
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