District bar associations across Punjab observed a ‘no-work’ Monday in protest against the ‘deteriorating law and order’ in the state.
The call to strike work was given after an advocate was recently shot at in Amritsar, and another was ‘threatened at gunpoint in Ludhiana’.
Assailants had opened fire at advocate Lakhwinder Singh, a resident of Jandiala Guru, on July 21, and he succumbed to his injuries on July 29.
“To uphold the unity and dignity of the legal fraternity,” a call has been issued to bar associations across Punjab, “in solidarity and to demand accountability of concerned law enforcement agencies,” said a statement by protesting advocates.
Ludhiana District Bar Association also alleged that the police failed to register a First Information Report (FIR) against persons who threatened advocate Harjas Singh Gill at gunpoint in Sarabha Nagar market on July 27.
Vipin Saggar, President, Ludhiana District Bar Association, said: “We are expressing our solidarity after recent attacks on advocates in Punjab and it was a unanimous call by Bar Associations across the state to observe no-work day today (Monday). We strongly condemn the inaction of the local police in failing to register an FIR even as an advocate was openly threatened at gunpoint in Ludhiana. Another one has been shot dead in Amritsar. This is a serious threat to the safety and dignity of the legal fraternity in the state. We have respectfully requested the judicial officers to adjourn the cases listed for hearing today and not to pass any adverse orders due to the absence of counsel.”
Meanwhile, the Amritsar Bar Association said that the Bar Council of India “has already taken serious note” of advocate Lakhwinder Singh’s murder and has assured “full support”.
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“The Amritsar Bar Association stands committed to pursuing justice for our departed colleague and will continue to work with all legal institutions and stakeholders to ensure security and respect of advocates across Punjab,” said the Amritsar Bar Association in a statement.
