Revolver Threats and FIRs: Delhi Lawyers Strike Across District Courts
Lawyers across Delhi district courts strike after an ACP allegedly threatened them with a revolver and an FIR was filed against advocates.
Legal work came to a standstill across all district courts in Delhi on Tuesday as lawyers launched a massive one-day strike. The sudden abstention from judicial duties was triggered by allegations of police intimidation and the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against advocates at the Shahdara Police Station.
The Spark: A Violent Clash and Broken Promises
The tension traces back to October 23, when a fight broke out between lawyers. The altercation was severe, leaving Advocate Lalit Bansal with a serious head injury. Following the incident, Advocate Amulya Ratan filed an FIR, and the accused individuals were taken into police custody.
According to Vijay Bishnoi, Secretary of the Rouse Avenue Court Bar Association, both the Station House Officer (SHO) and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) had assured the legal community that the accused parties would be arrested. However, the situation took a turn on October 24 when a lawyer visiting the station to obtain a copy of the FIR discovered that all the accused had been released.
Allegations of Armed Intimidation
The protest intensified following a confrontation between the lawyers and senior police officials. When advocates approached the SHO and ACP to voice their grievances regarding the release of the accused, the encounter allegedly turned hostile.
Vijay Bishnoi highlighted a shocking claim regarding the conduct of the ACP, stating that the officer displayed an alarming level of aggression.
"Just look at the ACP's nerve—he's loading his revolver, showing it off, and threatening the lawyers,"Bishnoi told ANI, adding that the officer was justifying his actions while provoking the advocates.
Demands for Suspension and Accountability
The legal fraternity reacted swiftly to the news that an FIR had been registered against several lawyers at the Shahdara police station on Monday. The Coordination Committee of the Delhi Bar Association, led by Chairman Advocate Neeraj, convened an emergency meeting and issued a circular for the abstention of work.
The lawyers are now demanding strict action against the police officials involved. Specifically, the Coordination Committee has called for:
- The immediate suspension of ACP Manasvi Vashishta.
- The immediate suspension of the concerned SHO of Shahdara Police Station.
- An impartial inquiry into the conduct of these officers.
Expressing his outrage, Bishnoi urged the Delhi Police Commissioner and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure that officers with such behavioral patterns are never assigned to sensitive postings for the remainder of their careers.