IMPHAL, August 12: While it is common for mob justice to play out in the state, matters have taken a turn for the worse with a local club not only disregarding the directives of a Court but have also threathened a legal practitioner. A Counsel representing a woman who is a victim of alleged domestic violence at the court was threatened by office bearers of a local club including its President, Vice president, General secretary along with some of their followers.
Following the incident, the Counsel has approached the All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and lodged a complaint at Imphal police station.
Later, a press meet was held today at the office of AMBA at Uripok Cheirap Court this evening in regard with the incident.
According to AMBA president, Advocate Khaidem Mani Singh who narrated the incident to the media, Advocate Hajarimayum Gangarani Devi, daughter of (L) H Bapu Sharma who is also a member of AMBA has been representing a petitioner by the name of Gurumayum Radhamani Devi (24), of Sagolband Tera Sapam Leirak in the Criminal (Complaint) case No 170 of 2013, 13 of 2013 against her husband Wakongkhem Ratankumar Singh (25), son of W Maimu Singh of Chingmeirong Bazaar Board at the court of Judicial Magistrate 1st Class (JMIC), Imphal.
The case is still pending at the court. But in the meantime, the petitioner approached the court with a prayer to let her keep her three years old daughter. Thereafter, the court of JMIC, Imphal issued an interim order on August 5, 2103 letting the woman to keep her child, he said.
Following the court’s directive, the petitioner’s counsel Gangarani with the help of the police took the child from her father and handed her to the mother, he said.
But representatives of the Naharol Leishemba Club (NLC) of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, including its President Leisangthem Pratap Meitei (50), son of (L) L Ibohanbi Meitei; Vice president Konsam Manitomba Singh (55), son of (L) K Bhudhachandra Singh and General secretary Konsam Geenedy alias Babulu Singh (25), son of (L) K Saratchandra Singh, along with around 29 followers allegedly stormed Gangarani’s residence and threatened her, he maintained.
They told Gangarani that she had snatched away the child from her father and she should return the child immediately to the father and that they do not care about the court’s judgement or the advocate, he maintained.
Using provocative words, they also threatened to dismantle the house of the advocate, he said.
Left with no choice, Advocate Gangarani had to run in the middle of the night looking for the child and brought the child from her mother at around 1 am and handed her over to them, he said.
Besides the threats, the club office bearers have also imposed a ban on H Gangarani Devi and her family from using the crematorium, public hydrant and other public properties in the locality, he said. She is now taking shelter at someone’s place, he informed.
Following the developments, the Advocate has approached with a compliant to AMBA and also had submitted a written complaint to Imphal police station on August 8, 2013 following the incident.
The AMBA president speaking to media strongly condemned the incident. He said it is the duty of a counsel to represent the petitioner in the court, and it is the Court which has judged the case.
AMBA has now warned of legal action against the club’s office bearers asking to revoke its stand.