Bar condemns killing of Telangana lawyer couple

Legal Correspondent

Shimla, February 24

The Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh has condemned the brutal murder of a lawyer couple in Telangana on February 17 and urged the DGP, Telangana, to ensure the arrest of assailants at the earliest.

Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani were pulled out of their vehicle on a highway in Telangana on February 17 and hacked to death.

“The Bar council condemns the brutal killing of advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani in broad daylight and in public view. The planned killings of these advocates who took up matters in public interest has shaken the entire legal fraternity,” state Bar Council chairman Ramakant Sharma said in a statement.

The Bar body said such “gruesome incidents” do not augur well for a free and independent democracy where the rule of law guarantees the right to profess a profession without fear or favour.

The council urged the Central government to enact appropriate law for the protection of lawyers as requested by the Bar Council of India and ensure the safety of advocates, who were facing threats to their personal life in discharging their professional duties.