Kolkata: Lawyers at the City Sessions Court and Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court Complex at Bankshall Street stayed away from proceedings on Monday, observing a day-long strike to protest the assault on advocates and an egg attack on lawyers last Thursday. They also demanded the immediate arrest of all those involved in the incident.The strike affected regular proceedings at the sprawling court complex, which handles thousands of cases, largely criminal proceedings and trials arising from several police station jurisdictions across Kolkata. The complex houses City Sessions, Fast Track, Special CBI and Metropolitan Magistrate courts across heritage buildings and the newer Bichar Bhawan annex.Officials said almost all private lawyers participated in the strike and did not appear for accused persons. “In cases where immediate arrests were made and cases of transit remands were there, state counsels appeared and one-sided hearing was done,” a senior public prosecutor said.The protest followed a skirmish outside a courtroom last Thursday after a section of lawyers objected to eggs being thrown at advocates in connection with the arrest of YouTuber Dipak Byapari. Three lawyers were allegedly assaulted during the confrontation.The advocates later chased one of the alleged egg attackers, Raman Kumar Mishra, and handed him over to Hare Street police. Police arrested another accused, Roshan Sau, on Saturday. At least two others are still absconding, sources said.Despite the strike, courts dealt with matters requiring urgent judicial intervention. Amherst Street police produced Utpal Barik, arrested for allegedly withdrawing Rs 24 lakh from a deceased man’s bank account using forged documents. The court remanded him in police custody till October 14.In another case, Balurghat police produced Projjal Chakraborty, accused of cheating a person of Rs 35 lakh. The court granted police a one-day transit remand.Sources said lawyers were scheduled to meet the chief judge later on Monday night, after which a decision would be taken on whether to continue the strike.The protest came days after a similar egg-pelting incident at Baruipur court involving lawyer Sayan Banerjee. On Sept 26, the Calcutta High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of eggs being thrown at Banerjee and his assistants and sought a report from the South 24-Parganas district judge. Lawyers had subsequently held a rally over concerns about their safety inside court premises.
