Lawyers cease work demanding arrest of culprits

Bhubaneswar, Jan 16 (UNI) Functioning of the courts in the state capital was severely affected as the members of the Bhubaneswar Bar Association resorted to ceasework today, demanding the arrest of the culprits involved in outraging the modesty of one of their lady colleagues.

The miscreants allegedly molested the lady advocate near her village Balipatna, about 20 km from here on Monday last.

Bar Association Secretary Gyan Ranjan Mohanty said the lawyers at an emergency meeting resolved to file a PIL in Orissa High Court, seeking a direction to the authorities to strengthen the police commissionerate system and maintain law and order.

The meeting also resolved to demand the government to take steps for the arrest of the culprits at the earliest and adequate compensation to the victim.

Later, a delegation of lawyers, led by senior advocate Shivananda Rai and Bar Association Secretary Gyan Ranjan Mohanty, met Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy and submitted a memorandum in support of their demands.

The lawyers had blocked the Bhubaneswar-Puri NH 203 for eight hours yesterday demanding the immediate arrest of the miscreants.

During the discussion, the Chief Secretary told the delegation that nine people had been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

He promised that strong action would be taken against the persons identified by the victim.

The family members of the lady advocate had lodged an FIR with the Balipatna Police station.

UNI BD-DP SJC SS1844