Lawyers observe strike ; Take out silent procession

Jamshedpur, Sep 18 (UNI) Thousands of lawyers today observed pen down strike in Jamshedpur district court and took out silent procession, demanding action against the police officials for their reported 'failure' to save the life of one senior advocate of the court on September 15 at Sonari area here.

The members of Jamshdpur Bar Association and representative of Jharkhand High Court Bar Council today submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner N M Kulkarni, demanding suspension of the senior police officials, who allegedly failed to save the life of Sadhan Chatterjee, kidnapped on July 31 by one Aurobindo Guha, said to be the client of the lawyer and then killed him on Saturday last when the police team, led by two DSPs, raided the house and tried to rescue Mr Chatterjee.

The Association members alleged that the police took a hurried action to rescue the advocate,who was in captivity for about one and half-month and despite FIR lodged by the wife of the deceased police failed to locate him and the members came to know the whereabout of the abducted lawyer and informed the police.

But police took a hasty decision to rescue Mr Chatterjee, the lawyers alleged.

The lawyers threatned to go for a state wide indefinite strike if no action was taken against the 'guilty' police officials within seven days. They also demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of the deceased.

The delegation also met District Superintendent of Polcie N K Singh and urged him to initiate action against the police officials, who were present during the rescue operation.

An office bearer of Bar Association said Jharkhand High Court Bar Council would chalk out next course of agitation and the Bar Council of India was also intimated about the incident and the agitational programme of the lawyers of the state.

He said the Bihar High Court Bar Council also supported their agitation.

UNI