Lawyers protest excess use of force inside Court complex
AMBA, HCBAM take strong exception
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21 2024:
The All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and the High Court Bar Association, Manipur (HCBAM) on Wednesday demanded an enquiry into the alleged excessive use of force on women protesters by security personnel inside Cheirap Court complex yesterday.
The two bars associations continued that the enquiry should be initiated within a week headed by a retired Judge of the High Court of Manipur to fix responsibility, 'failing which further course of action will be decided' .
An emergency meeting of the executive meeting of AMBA and HCBAM was held at the office of AMBA today in connection with the confrontation which broke out between security forces and a group of women protesters at Cheirap Court complex where six persons arrested in connection with arms looting case were produced yesterday.
|
The bar associations contended that the security forces used electric batons, mock bombs and lethal weapons against the women protesters while condemning the 'excessive' use of force.
Appealing to all sections of society including security forces to respect the sanctity of the Court, AMBA and HCBAM demanded that the security of the Court should be strengthened without further delay.
A sit-in protest was also staged in front of Cheirap Court complex today against the alleged excessive use of force on women protesters by security personnel there a day ago.
As resolved in the emergency meeting, AMBA and HCBAM staged a sit-in protest in front of Cheirap Court complex today.
Speaking to the media by the sideline, AMBA president president P Tomcha Meitei said that Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel firing smoke bombs inside the Court complex and using excessive force against women protesters were unfortunate.
Asking if approval was taken from any Judge to use force inside the Court complex, he demanded that a team led by retired Judge of the Manipur High Court must be constituted within a week to probe the incident.
He cautioned that AMBA and HCBAM will launch agitations if their demand is not entertained.
"We strongly condemn the excessive use of force by the security force against women protesters by using electric baton sticks and other lethal weapons," Puyam Tomcha, told reporters.
"As a mark of protest, people abstained from discharging their duties in Courts today," he said.
(With inputs from PTI) .