BJP leader Kushal Pandey was arrested by Hare Street police in connection with the alleged egg attack on lawyers at Kolkata’s Bankshall court, hours before advocates were scheduled to march to the city police headquarters at Lalbazar on Wednesday, October 8.
Pandey has been identified as the prime accused in the incident, which was reported on Thursday, October 1. Police sources said he was called to Hare Street police station on Wednesday evening, where he allegedly surrendered before being formally arrested.
The arrest followed days of protests by members of the legal fraternity, who had alleged that police had not taken adequate action against those responsible for the disturbance at the court premises. Lawyers had announced a march and gherao at Lalbazar, demanding action against those allegedly involved in the incident and stronger security at court premises.
The alleged attack took place when arrested YouTuber Dipak Byapari was being produced before a court at Bankshall. Byapari had been arrested over a series of social media posts allegedly targeting chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. A group of agitators gathered on the court premises during the production and allegedly began throwing eggs.
One egg allegedly hit a lawyer, after which an altercation broke out between lawyers and the protesters. Four lawyers were reportedly injured in the ensuing confrontation, according to the report. The incident prompted members of the legal fraternity to stage protests and road blockades at different locations in Kolkata.
Pandey’s name emerged after Byapari was produced before a court following his arrest. The police action against Pandey became a central demand of the protesting lawyers, who maintained that all those allegedly involved in the confrontation should face action.
Representatives of the lawyers’ associations called off the proposed march and gherao soon after news of Pandey’s arrest emerged. The associations, however, said their broader agitation would continue until action was taken against all those allegedly involved in the incident.
The case has placed security arrangements at Bankshall court under renewed scrutiny after a confrontation inside or around a functioning court complex led to reported injuries, protests and road blockades across the city. The supplied report does not provide details of the specific charges filed against Pandey or the next date of his production before court.
