Over 1,500 lawyers of Jamshedpur civil court on Saturday resorted to a pen-down strike protesting the arrest of one of their fellow lawyers by Noamundi police on Friday night.

Advocate Birendra Kumar Singh has been accused of raping a 30-year-old woman in February this year.

The Jamshedpur Bar Association’s general secretary, Anil Tiwary convened a meeting of the JBA's executive committee which unanimously resolved to go on a strike.

The JBA members also burnt deputy inspector general (DIG), Kolhan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh effigy under whom the Noamundi thana falls.

"Advocate Birendra Singh (64) is a gentleman and one cannot imagine to have outraged the modesty of any woman. He has been framed by some vested interest. His arrest is illegal and he must be released immediately, " Tiwary told The Telegraph.

The JBA general secretary said if advocate Singh is not released unconditionally, then the association will continue its agitation.

According to the FIR lodged by the woman, advocate Birendra Singh had promised the victim to provide her a job in Tata Steel. Though the alleged victim was originally a resident of Noamundi, but she would work at a construction site in Potka in East Singhbhum district, she was asked to come to the steel city in connection with her job in Tata Steel and she was subsequently raped by the advocate.

The OC of Noamundi thana, Laxman Prasad confirmed that they have picked up Birendra Singh from his house at Baridih on Friday night, but for enquiry only.

"Birendra Singh is accused in a rape case registered with the Noamundi thana in February. We are verifying whether the allegation made by a 30-year-old woman was prima facie true, "the OC said.