Lawyers struck work in Kashmir courts

Srinagar, Mar 18: Normal work in the courts was affected today after lawyers stayed away protesting against attack on members of the Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) near Kotbalwal jail in Jammu.

The KBA members, including president Nazir Ahmad Ronga had gone to Kotbalwal jail to meet the detainees after getting permission from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Lawyers today boycotted courts in response to KBA strike call, demanding immediate action against those involved in the attack.

No case could come up in the courts for hearing today because of the strike. The association alleged the attack on the members of the bar in Jammu yesterday was pre-planned.

Mr Ronga said it was a conspiracy to kill the bar members who were to visit the jail where the condition of detainees was very serious. Recently news reports here said about two dozen arrested persons have lost their mental balance because of torture by the security forces inside the jail. It said hundreds of detenues, detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) are languishing in the jail for years without any trail.

UNI