Court activities across the State, including in the Orissa High Court here, were partially paralysed on Tuesday as lawyers did not attend the courts in protest against what they called “police failure” in immediately arresting the murderers of a Puri-based hotelier Chandan Kumar Behera, who also was an advocate and a member of the Puri Bar Association.
Behera was hacked to death by unidentified assailants near his hotel Sai Kutir on Sunday evening. He was with a friend when the incident happened, and the friend reportedly escaped from the spot as he was chased away by one of the assailants.
Reports said the Puri police immediately reached the spot and took Behera’s body and his friend to hospital. Sources said Behera’s friend is now undergoing treatment under police cover. Basing on his statements, the identities of the assailants have been ascertained. Police said a massive manhunt is on to nab the culprits, who have apparently gone underground.
Alleging “police inaction”, various lawyers’ bodies, including the Orissa High Court Bar Association, had on Monday decided to observe a symbolic protest on Tuesday over the incident and called upon the lawyers across the State to follow suit.