A Dastardly Assault

The assault of Ajay Kumar Phukan, member of the Foreigners Tribul No.4, Goalpara, by some lawyers on Wednesday was one the most heinous things to have happened in a civilized society. A member of any foreigners tribul is a magistrate or judge, and as such, this crimil act by lawyers (who ought to have known better) is most condemble. Though three of the main accused—Shahjahan Ali, zrul Islam and Umar Faroque—are absconding, the Goalpara police have arrested five lawyers for their involvement in the crime. What needs to be appreciated is that a high-level investigation team comprising Additiol Chief Secretary (Home) TY Das, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, DGP Mukesh Sahay, Special DGP (Law and Order) Kuladhar Saikia, Additiol DGP Mukesh Agarwal (Law and Order), IGP (Security) Subhra Jyoti Hazarika, Registrar General, Gauhati High Court Hitesh Kumar Sarma, Goalpara DC JVN Subramanyam and Assistant Commissioner Borli Das visited the Foreigners Tribul Court No. 4 on Thursday to take stock of the situation. What is of the utmost importance is that such crimes constitute a complete break with hallowed traditions that hold any society together. What is more important than the identity of the judge or magistrate attacked is the fact that such crimes make even judges and magistrates vulnerable, and no society can permit this. The speed of delivering justice becomes crucially important in such cases.