In Manipur, Lawyers Protest Vandalism at Court Complex

Imphal, May 19 (PTI) Lawyers here staged a sit-in on Monday, protesting assault of one of their colleagues on May 18 and vandalism in the court complex at Lamphel.

They urged the government to provide more security in court complexes and impose restriction on public entry to court rooms as "lawyers feel unsafe".

On Saturday, the court complex was vandalised by family members of a man who was allegedly killed. The accused in the case was brought to the court, but was whisked by security personnel, which enraged the mob, leading to the attack, officials said.

All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and High Court Bar Association, which called for the sit-in at Cheirap court, condemned the Saturday violence.

AMBA president Brajit Singh said, "No one is above law, including elected representatives."

He said if those behind the attack are not arrested, lawyers will be compelled to take "further action".

"Despite several legal awareness campaigns to prevent mob violence, hardly anything has changed," senior lawyer Puspa Gurumayam said.

Meanwhile, police told PTI that 13 people have been arrested in connection with the attack at the court complex.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)