PERNEM, July 19 -- In a shocking display of daylight lawlessness, a 32-year-old High Court lawyer Adv Ankur Kumar and his 75-year-old client Anil Naik were violently cornered, beaten with iron rods, and forced under duress to sign case-withdrawal papers during a court-mandated coastal demolition drive at Tembvada, Morjim. The brutal assault has triggered an unprecedented wave of fury across Goa's legal fraternity, with bar associations collectively labelling the ambush a direct, dangerous war on the administration of justice.

As the Mandrem Police look for eight remaining fugitives after arresting Dhruva alias Loshan Morje (30) and his father Dileep alias Loshan Morje (55), both residents of Tembvada, Morjim, lawyers across the State hav...