Bihar advocates paralyse court against abduction

Patna, Jul 31 (UNI) Work in the Patna civil court remained paralysed today following a two-day boycott by the practising lawyers in protest against the abduction of Mukesh Kumar, kidnapped son of their colleague and advocate Laleshwar Prasad Singh.

In an emergent meeting, the District Bar Association of Patna civil court decided to boycott work. Irked at the 'negligent' attitude of the police, the association unanimously decided to boycott court functioning for two days commencing today.

The association had given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the administration on July 26 for rescuing the abducted youth.

Addressing the meeting, association president J P Singh and secretary Arvind Kumar Singh said the administration had 'failed' to prove itself in connection with the attitute. During the meeting they alleged that instead of showing promptness in recovering the victim, the police was putting the blame on the lawyers for the abduction. Condemning the 'inordinate' delay on the part of the administration they said the advocates were forced to adopt the agitational path. The court boycott call was the first phase of the agitation which would be intensified if the police failed to rescue the boy.

Senior lawyer Ranjit Singh expressed concern over the 'slackness' of the police saying the youth was in captive of abductors since July 19 and the police had done 'nothing concrete' so far except arresting one person. He added that it was the first time since the NDA came to power in Bihar that lawyers had been targetted by the criminals.

Mukesh Kumar(20) was abducted from Patliputra Police station area on July 19.

UNI RS PL RN1456