Police-Advocate conflict: Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has voiced his apprehension over the ongoing clash between advocates and police personnel in Chikmagalur district. The conflict stems from an alleged assault on an advocate by local residents, prompting Bommai to label the situation as a dangerous development.Addressing the breakdown of law and order machinery in the state, Bommai, through his official social media account, asserted, A gross lack of discipline in the police department is a serious issue, and both the government and officials have lost control of the home department. Immediate corrective action is necessary to prevent anarchy in the state. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must intervene and foster an atmosphere where everyone respects the law of the land.Trigger Incident: Assault on AdvocateThe incident that ignited the ongoing confrontation occurred on November 30 when police reportedly assaulted a young advocate inside a Chikkamagaluru police station. The altercation ensued after the police stopped the advocates two-wheeler, confiscated the keys for not wearing a helmet, and a heated argument followed.Judicial InterventionReacting to the incident, the High Court of Karnataka took suo motu cognisance on December 1. A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Krishna S Dixit, treated a letter from the Advocates Association, Bengaluru (AAB), as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition. The AAB had informed the Chief Justice about the brutal attack on the advocate by the police, leading to the courts intervention.This escalating conflict raises concerns about law enforcement and public order, demanding urgent attention and resolution from the state authorities.
