National

Protect defence lawyer: Brinda

NEW DELHI: Taking up the cause of a lawyer in Madhya Pradesh who was attacked by Bajrang Dal cadres for defending the accused in a terror case, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has asked the State Chief Minister to provide protection to him.

Polit Bureau Member and MP Brinda Karat has written Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan that Noor Muhammad, appearing in a Dhar district court as defence lawyer in a case against alleged terrorists, was manhandled, slapped and abused by a group which, a TV news channel said, belonged to the Bajrang Dal.

Ms. Karat said she spoke to the lawyer, who said he was subjected to physical attacks and abuse and warned not to appear in the case.

The threats continued, she said, adding the elderly lawyer was attacked earlier in July.

“The country is united against the crime of terror and for the strictest punishment to terrorists. In my opinion, there is no room for any compromise on this. But, however, much we wish for the severest punishment to those guilty, to physically attack and abuse a lawyer appearing for the accused undertrials is a clear violation of the law,” the letter said.

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