Sambalpur, May 3: The lawyers of Balangir today joined the ongoing dharna in front of the office of the inspector general of police here demanding arrest of Sambalpur collector Mrinalini Darswal. The lawyers have been on a cease work agitation since May 1.

The lawyers have been demanding the arrest and transfer of the Sambalpur collector, accusing her of misbehaving with them and using abusive language against their fraternity.

Mrinalini, on the other hand, lodged a police complaint, alleging that the lawyers had manhandled her and ransacked her residence on April 23. The police had arrested 18 lawyers, including president of the Sambalpur Bar Association Pramod Rath basing on the complaint lodged by the collector. However, the court released the lawyers on personal recognisance (PR) bond.

Following their arrest, the lawyers have been demanding arrest of the collector on the basis of their complaints.

Lawyers from across the state have also extended their support to the ongoing agitation of the lawyers of Sambalpur. Lawyers of Balangir and Phulbani today met their Sambalpur counterparts to express their solidarity.

Former president of the Balangir Bar Association Jagannath Acharya said: “We have come here to support the lawyers of Sambalpur.”

The former president also said the lawyers in Balangir would support the western Odisha strike called by central action committee of the Western Odisha Bar Associations on May 8.

However, he urged not to disrupt the train movements during the strike.

President of the Phulbani Bar Association Lambodar Kanhar also pledged his support to the cause of the Sambalpur lawyers.