When Will defenders of Justice be given due protection in India?
Table of Contents
The Background
On the gloomy morning of January 25, 2005, Raju Pal the BSP MLA was shot dead in broad daylight, merely three months after winning the Allahabad(West) assembly seat, in his electoral debut against, Mafia-turned-Don Atiq Ahmed’s younger brother, Khalid Azim is also known as Ashraf. Khalid Azim was a long-time player in the field of politics having won the seat five times as MLA, he also won a seat in Lok Sabha, from Phulpur in 2004, on an SP ticket. He continued to win the assembly seat, in 1989,1991, and 1993 as an independent candidate, and in 1996 on the SP ticket as well as in 2002 as an Apna Dal candidate.
After a long and slow investigation, by the state police, the case was taken over by CBI, in 2016, on directions of the Supreme Court. The agency then went on to file a chargesheet against 10 persons, which also included Atiq Ahmed as well as his brother Khalid Azim in 2019. In October 2022, the special CBI court in Lucknow framed charges separately for Atiq. As a result, he was arrested and is currently lodged in Sabarmati Jail.
Prime Witness shot dead
Umesh Pal, who was a lawyer by profession, and also the prime witness in the RAju Pal murder case, was continuously being threatened, as well as attacked, to the point of being abducted by miscreants in 2008, and then, again in 2016, after which two cases were registered separately. On 24 February 2023, Umesh Pal was shot dead, in broad daylight in Prayagraj’s Sulem Saray area, after he was done attending a hearing in the Court. His two gunners were also attacked and are in critical condition. It has been reported, that as soon as Umesh pal and his gunners, reached his house, a group of armed assailants, hurled crude bombs and several shots at the trio. When the trio fell to the ground, the assailants had already escaped the crime scene. Umesh Pal, succumbed to his injuries, while one of the gunners is on a ventilator and the other is being treated for his bullet injuries.
Image Source:- ANI
Protection of Lawyers
This incident is a clear example of how India is lacking in giving due protection to the ‘defenders of justice’.In another incident in Telangana, two shooters killed Advocate Vaman Rao and his wife, when they were on their way to Hyderabad by stabbing them to death, in the middle of the road. He had filed two cases against two leaders from the ruling party to prevent the leaders from encroaching upon public land.
Judges as well as the police, get diligent protection. But who is there to protect lawyers, the crucial link between the two? Lawyers play a crucial role in delivering justice, so when it comes to their security, there has been a lack from all walks of the “System”. Even though, the Bar Council OF India issued the ‘Advocate Protection Bill 2021’ it is yet to showcase its strength in the current scenario of intolerance and violence. There needs to be an assurance for adequate protection for the legal fraternity so that, the fraternity can render justice without justice being delayed.
