Activist-lawyer Bhushan attacked

Senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan was in a relaxed mood after wrapping up a hectic work schedule for the day. It was 4 pm and time for him to leave for his office in Noida.

However, a prior appointment to a news channel held him back at his chamber (301) in the New Lawyer Chamber block. Bhushan was asked to give his opinion on the government’s latest move to make Lokpal a constitutional body.

As the unit from the channel fixed its camera on Bhushan, three persons enquired about his whereabouts from the advocate’s juniors and staff. Before anyone could reply, the trio barged into his chamber. One of them, later identified as Inder Verma, slapped the advocate. Caught unawares, a shocked Bhushan fought back. Verma, however, managed to overpower Bhushan and pinned him to the floor and kicked him.

As Bagga kicked him, he dared Bhushan for airing his views favouring plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir. The attacker was stopped by Bhushan’s assistant and some lawyers who were taken aback by the incident. Noticing an enraged group of lawyers, Verma’s two associates escaped. However, before running out of the compound, they threw a bunch of pamphlets at the lawyers.

The pamphlets claimed the attackers were the members of the Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena and accused Bhushan of indulging in anti-India activities. It was later revealed that Verma was a resident of Karai village in Nangloi. A case of voluntarily causing hurt, criminal trespass and criminal conspiracy was registered against him and his accomplices.

Regaining his composure, Bhushan said it appeared that the youths targeted him for his stand on J&K. “They were saying I have made some comments on Kashmir to which they were taking objection. Last week I had spoken in Varanasi that a plebiscite should be held in Kashmir. One of them claimed they were from Sri Ram Sena.”

Police later took Bhushan to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for an examination. Within minutes after the attack, Arvind Kejriwal reached the chambers.

Team Anna, Congress, BJP and CPM condemned the incident. Home minister Chidambaram said he had asked Delhi Police Commissioner BK Gupta to take appropriate action against the assailants.