Police and lawyers clash in Orissa

BERHAMPUR (ORISSA): A clash erupted between police and agitating lawyers who raised slogans opposing Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's visit to a hospital accusing him of inaction in meeting their demand to set up a circuit bench of the Orissa high court in the city.

When the advocates, wearing black badges, attempted to break the police cordon near the MKCG Medical College Hospital it led to a minor clash, the police said.

Besides shouting slogans against Patnaik, the lawyers also attacked the government for setting up a commission to look into the demand for high court benches.

Claiming that there was no major confrontation or clash, Berhampur superintendent of police Nitinjeet Singh said "the agitating advocates tried to break the police cordon and we only pushed them back."

Ganjam Bar Association president S N Rath claimed two advocates sustained injuries in the incident, but police did not confirm it.

In order to prevent any major flare up, the authorities clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 and tightened security in the area for about an hour.

As all the four entrance gates of the hospital premises were cordoned off and barricaded, the patients had to wait outside.