Srinagar, Aug. 28 -- By Aasif Wani

A dispute inside a Tehsildar's office in Sopore has become larger than the allegations themselves.

Two young lawyers say they were mistreated during a professional visit on August 19. The Tehsildar rejects the allegations, but the Bar Association Sopore began a sit-in and sought action. The administration, meanwhile, remained largely silent.

That silence is the weakest possible institutional response.

The lawyers are seeking action, but the deeper demand is for a process capable of establishing what happened.

Such a process would give the Tehsildar an opportunity to answer the allegations and give the lawyers a formal avenue through which their complaint could be examined.

Both interests belong to ...