Kolkata, Oct. 4 -- Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday condemned the alleged assault on newly-elected West Bengal Bar Council member Advocate Samim Ahammed near Salboni Police Station, describing the incident as a threat to the rule of law and alleged it to be a pattern of intimidation of lawyers in the state.
In a social media statement, Banerjee said she was "shocked" to learn that Ahammed was allegedly pressured to alter his complaint following the assault. "I am shocked to learn that he was even pressured to alter his complaint. Following the intervention of the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Samim returned home safely," she said in a post on X.
She termed the recent attacks on advocates at Bankshall Court and Baruipur Court "equally unacceptable"
"West Bengal cannot permit a culture of intimidation and JUNGLE RAJ to prevail. The rule of law must prevail over political violence. Every advocate, irrespective of political affiliation or ideology, must be able to discharge their professional duties without fear," said Banerjee. The former Chief Minister accused BJP-linked hooligans behind the "repeated atrocities" and urged the administration to ensure the safety and security of advocates and take "firm, impartial action" against those responsible.
Her remarks came after a group of lawyers, including Ahammed, visited families of CPI(M) workers affected by recent clashes in Garbeta. The delegation, comprising lawyers from the Calcutta High Court and Midnapore court, alleged that their vehicles were attacked three times in Dhadika Bazar. The lawyers alleged that they were attacked with sticks, shovels and bamboo, leaving three male and two female Calcutta High Court lawyers injured.
The allegations against BJP workers are yet to be established, police said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.