Today, On 21st April, Lawyers from the Himachal Pradesh High Court held a protest demanding action against a police constable accused of assaulting a local advocate. Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan criticized the police for their insensitivity and misuse of power, stating that the issue was serious enough to provoke a public demonstration.
Shimla: A large group of lawyers from the Himachal Pradesh High Court protested on Monday outside the Chhota Shimla (PS East), demanding immediate action against a police constable accused of assaulting a local lawyer.
The protesting lawyers claimed that the police were protecting their own by filing serious counter-allegations against the lawyer instead of taking unbiased action.
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Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, stated ,
“We don’t come out on the streets unless the issue is grave; this is about police insensitivity and misuse of power,”
The incident reportedly occurred about a week ago when a local advocate sought police assistance during a dispute. According to the lawyers, not only did the police fail to respond appropriately, but the constable also physically assaulted the advocate. Shockingly, instead of filing a case against the constable, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) with serious charges against the lawyer.
The protesters gathered outside Chhota Shimla (PS East) near the HP secretariat, where senior advocates addressed their peers and spoke to the media. Senior Advocate Sanjeev Bhushan expressed deep concerns about what he labeled a blatant abuse of authority by the police.
Bhushan remarked,
“The advocate community doesn’t step out of their work unless the issue is extremely serious. Protesting on the streets is even more uncommon. But this is one such issue where the police have shown complete insensitivity,”
He added,
“The police constable took the law into his own hands and assaulted a lawyer. Even if this had happened to a common man, it would still be unacceptable. After the assault, when the lawyer attempted to file a complaint, the police instead registered a counter-FIR with harsh charges, without conducting a proper investigation,”
Bhushan also mentioned video evidence allegedly captured by bystanders, which shows the constable attacking the advocate. These videos have circulated on social media.
He accused the police of attempting to downplay the incident by promoting derogatory comments against the lawyer online, raising suspicions that they are trying to shield their colleague.
“It is evident from these actions that the police are not investigating this incident fairly,” .
Bhushan asserted,
“We are demanding that the counter-FIR against the lawyer be cancelled and an impartial inquiry be initiated against the constable involved.”
The lawyers criticized the conduct of the Chhota Shimla (PS East), labeling it “irresponsible and biased.”
Bhushan emphasized,
“If such incidents continue unchecked, the public’s trust in the police will erode completely. This protest is symbolic we are here to send a message that the police must act justly. They should not try to protect their own when they are in the wrong,”
He stressed that the issue should not be viewed as a confrontation between lawyers and police, but rather as a matter of accountability and justice.
He concluded,
“We’re not here with any ego. We’re here to demand that facts be examined and decisions made based on evidence. If an officer is at fault, they should be held accountable. We hope that today’s dialogue will lead to a fair resolution,”
While no formal negotiations had occurred by the time of the protest, senior police officials arrived at the scene, indicating a potential willingness to engage in discussions.
The lawyers expressed their openness to talks and hoped for a constructive resolution to the matter.
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