Ludhiana Bar assn members on strike, court work suffers

Protesting against the alleged high-handedness of AAP leaders and their supporters, the District Bar Association (DBA), Ludhiana, went on a two-day strike starting today, severely affecting work in the district courts. Lawyers have demanded immediate registration of an FIR against those who allegedly threatened a local advocate by brandishing a pistol and issuing death threats.

The call for abstaining from court work was given by DBA president Vipan Saggar, while citing police failure to take timely action despite serious allegations involving intimidation of a practicing advocate.

According to advocate Harjas Singh Gill, the incident occurred on the night of July 27 near Bansal Market, Sarabha Nagar. In a written complaint addressed to the Director General of Police, Chandigarh, Gill stated that Darsh Toor, along with Sunny Gill and four unidentified persons, stopped his car. Toor was reportedly in a black Scorpio and the others in a white Fortuner. Gill alleged that one of them loaded a pistol and pointed it at his head, while others tried to break the windowpanes of his car.

Despite submitting an online report and identifying the accused, Gill claimed that no FIR had been lodged so far, allegedly due to the political connections of the accused with the ruling party. “They openly declared that they are not afraid of any police action due to their political backing,” Gill said in his complaint.

Responding to the allegations, Amarinderpal Singh, district youth wing president of AAP and brother of accused Adarsh Singh Toor, claimed that the charges were politically motivated. “Gill belongs to the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and is trying to defame us. Why did he take three days to lodge a complaint if the incident was that serious? We are ready to cooperate in any investigation,” he said.

Gill, however, maintains that the police are pressuring him for a compromise. “If these goons are not booked under the law, they will continue to terrorise common people,” he added.

The strike also received support from Bar Associations of Malerkotla, who are also protesting against the recent death of a young advocate, who succumbed to bullet injuries 13 days after being shot. The legal fraternity has expressed deep concern over the increasing threats to lawyers and the lack of police protection.

President of the DBA Vipan Saggar warned that the protest might be intensified if immediate action was not taken. “Lawyers cannot work under constant threat. The police must uphold the rule of law,” he said, urging the police authorities to register an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Arms Act, and to arrest the accused without delay.

Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said, “We are in the process of registering an FIR against all involved. Law is equal for everyone.” At the time of filing this report, the police had initiated the process of lodging the FIR.

Meanwhile, court work remained paralysed today as most litigants were unaware of the strike and had to return without getting their work done. The District Bar Association, Malerkotla, led by its president Arvind Singh Maavi, also abstained from work to express solidarity. Members mourned the death of the young advocate and condemned the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Warring seeks FIR, arrest

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring today demanded registration of an FIR and immediate arrest of Darsh Toor for threatening and pointing a pistol at advocate Harjas Singh.

Reacting to the incident, Warring said this was unacceptable as AAP workers and leaders were taking law into their hands. Referring to the incident, the PCC president noted that the AAP leaders had the audacity to intimidate people, assuming that they enjoy immunity against the law.

Demanding immediate registration of an FIR followed by arrest, he said the Congress would stage a dharna in case action was not taken against the guilty. “What message are you trying to convey that the AAP leaders and their kin are immune to any action no matter what crime they commit?” he asked, while asserting that the Congress will not let that happen.

Expressing solidarity with advocate Harjas, Warring said the Congress stood by him and would ensure that the guilty was brought to book. “Just because you belong to the ruling party, you cannot be allowed to go scot-free like that”, he told AAP leaders.