Court attack: Gauhati HC Chief Justice to visit Mizoram

Aizawl, Sept 30: Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh will visit Mizoram next week in the wake of a mob attack at Lunglei court and subsequent withdrawal of all judges from there, an official said here on Friday. “Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh would visit Mizoram on October 5 to study the situation arising out of the mob attack in Lunglei District and Sessions Court on September 22. After the incident, the High Court Registrar General had withdrawn all the three judges of the court,” a Mizoram Law Department official said.

“The Mizoram government requested the Gauhati High Court Chief Justice to rescind the order withdrawing the judges. The Chief Justice, in a letter to Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, assured to consider the request,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirlia said that a magisterial inquiry has been instituted to probe the incident. A mob had attacked the Lunglei district court buildings on September 22 and ransacked the official residence of a civil judge, after a 26-year-old youth was produced before the court by police for allegedly killing another in the Zohnuai locality of Lunglei district on August 27.

The crowd had demanded to see the accused youth, but police turned down their demand, leading to the mob attack. The Union Home Ministry has also sought a report from the Congress-ruled Mizoram government over violence on Lunglei district court premises.

“Describing the mob attack on the district court building in Mizoram as a ‘dark chapter’, Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajit Singh has urged the Chief Minister to take stringent action against the culprits,” the official added. He said that the Chief Justice in his letter to the Chief Minister noted that unless strict action is taken at once, the incident would encourage future similar adversities. (IANS)