Dumka, April 24: Dumka today turned into a battleground as lawyers, along with pradhans (village heads), vented their anger on shopkeepers and vehicle owners to protest against police brutality on pradhan president Bhim Mondal, a lawyer, for allegedly breaking traffic norms.

The pradhans’ association today called for a daylong bandh. They put up road blockades at DC Chowk, near Tinbazar and Dudhani.

Lawyers of the Dumka district bar association boycotted local courts today and took out a silent procession that passed through the main roads of Dumka. Later, a delegation called on district and sessions judge and divisional commissioner and gave them a memorandum demanding the immediate arrest and suspension of all policemen involved in the incident and withdrawal of the false case against Mondal.

On April 23, a patrolling jeep of the Dumka police was trapped in a traffic jam near Tinbazar locality. Sub-inspector Ajay Kumar Singh reportedly slapped Mondal for alleged “breaking” of traffic rules while he was stuck in the jam.

Eyewitnesses said Mondal, “who did not commit any crime”, was mercilessly beaten by the other police officers inside the patrolling jeep.

Mondal, lying at Dumka sadar hospital today, said: “I was dragged to the police station and had to face brutality.”

Superintendent of police Sidho Hembrom said a case has been lodged against Mondal at the town police station last night for “breaking traffic norms, trying to attack police personnel on duty and committing nuisance in public place”. However, he said Mondal had been immediately set free when the police came to know about his identity. “We had already apologised to him but as he did not want to compromise, a case has been lodged against him. We also sent him to hospital,” he said.