NEW DELHI: Tensions escalated at Saket District Court on Saturday as a group of lawyers staged a protest against the Delhi Police over the registration of an FIR against advocates accused of assaulting a police sub-inspector. The Saket Bar Association has called for a strike and barred police personnel from entering the court premises.The protest follows an incident on Thursday, where a sub-inspector alleged that he was manhandled and had his uniform torn by a group of lawyers inside the court complex. The officer had gone to court for a hearing in connection with an ongoing case and later made a PCR call around 2.53 pm, claiming he was assaulted outside court number 508.In response to the FIR filed by the police, the Saket Court Bar Association on Friday issued a notice announcing that its members would abstain from work in protest. Security has since been tightened around the court, with senior police officials deployed to assess the situation.Saket Court Secretary Anil Basoya said, “We don’t want strikes, but we are doing this because we are facing injustice… Police has registered a false FIR against lawyers and we are protesting… Some people were conducting illegal activities near the residence of one of the lawyers, and when he went to the nearest police station to complain, the Sub Inspector denied registering the complaint and assaulted the lawyer instead.“Basoya further added that the assault continued inside the court complex. “The police never conduct any investigation on lawyers’ complaints… If they fulfil our demand, we will stop the strike; otherwise, this will continue… We will not allow the policemen to enter the court premises or work here,” he said.Speaking to PTI, Basoya reiterated the charge of police inaction. “In any matter where a lawyer is the victim, the police refuse to register FIR. Senior officers also don’t help, and we then have to approach the court. If the police act against lawyers, then we will also stand against them.”The Delhi Police have confirmed that an FIR has been registered and a probe is underway to identify the individuals involved.