From Our Legal Correspondent
Thiruvanathapuram the Bar Council of Kerala, the apex lawyers’ body in the state, has asked the lawyers across to observe today, as protest-day to register their anguish on the “police brutality” on a practicing advocate in Kollam. Advocate Panampil Jayakumar, a senior lawyer of over two decades standing was “ mercilessly” beaten up by the local police at the local station in Karunagapally about 20 kilometers north of Kollam town. The incident happened on 5th of this month, a day prior to Onam celebrations. The Karunagapally Police arrested the lawyer on a “fabricated” offence relating to motor vehicle accident and paraded handcuffed. The Bar council demands suspension of the accused police officer from service immediately and conduct a probe on the criminal attack by the police on the lawyer.
According Bar Council Chairman Advocate K N Anil Kumar the decision to observe Monday as protest-day was taken in an urgent council meeting held yesterday was taken at the council meeting held on Sunday. Although the government passed an order removing the accused police officers from duty the Bar Council through a resolution demanded that the culprits be suspended immediately and an independent investigation be conducted.
The meeting held on Monday decided that the Council members should meet the Chief Minister and raise this demand to suspend the accused police officers immediately. The state Bar Council members will also visit the Kollam Bar Association and hold discussions with lawyers today.
