West Bengal lawyers strike to protest attacks on advocates

Lawyers in West Bengal have initiated strikes and protests following a series of physical attacks on legal professionals at various courts. In Howrah, advocates blocked Mahatma Gandhi Road and observed a day-long strike to demand the arrest of culprits and the implementation of the Lawyers Security Protection Act.

The unrest follows specific incidents, including an assault on lawyer Sayan Banerjee at the Baruipur Court and a scuffle at the Bankshall Court in Kolkata. The latter incident occurred during the production of arrested YouTuber Deepak Byapari, who faces allegations of making insulting remarks about a political leader and involvement in anti-national activities according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

During the Bankshall Court incident, protesters allegedly threw eggs at the accused, leading to a melee between protesters and lawyers. West Bengal Bar Council member Mihir Banerjee noted that strikes were also underway in the Sealdah and Bankshall courts, warning that protests could spread across the state if security for lawyers is not addressed.