SURAT, Jan 28: Members of the Surat District Bar Association (SDBA) burnt an effigy of of Ahmedabad-based DySP H Y Chudasama outside the district court premises on Thursday afternoon, despite attempts by the police officials to prevent them. The lawyers also staged a chakka jam outside the court from 11 am to 5 pm in the Athwa Lines area.The lawyers are demanding the arrest of Chudasama, who drove his vehicle onto a group of lawyers injuring two of them, and killers of BJP councillor Nita Satbhaya.While a group of about 100 advocates burnt the official's effigy, they were prevented from doing the same outside the main entrance, where Chudasama is accused of driving his vehicle onto the feet of lawyers.Even as more than 50 policemen, many of them in plain clothes, stood outside the court door, the lawyers drove a vehicle onto the other side of the road and set the effigy on fire amidst much confusion.Talking to Express Newsline, association president Ashit Mehta claimed burning of the effigy and the chakka jam was successful. On the future course of action, he said the association had sent a telegram to Home Minister Haren Pandya informing him of the episode. He said the minister was misinformed of the incident and they were likely to meet him in the coming 10 days or so.The advocates have decided to boycott normal work till January 30. Mehta said members would meet at 2:30 pm on Saturday to chalk out the future course of action.The scene outside the court premises was tense on Thursday afternoon with the policemen talking away a can of kerosene from the lawyers and spilling in on the road. However, this didn't stop the advocates from burning his effigy on the other side of the road.The city police say they have not arrested the official for the case had to be examined closely to check whether the complaint filed under section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) was exaggerated or not. The advocates, on their part, have alleged that the police was deliberately avoiding the issue and had added a section of rash driving to dilute the complaint.
