Arrested Sambalpur lawyers subjected to third degree torture: BJP

Sambalpur lawyers, arrested for resorting to violence during their protest for setting up of the High Court bench in the western district, are reportedly being subjected to third degree torture by police, alleged BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Jayanarayan Misha on Saturday.

Speaking to the media the saffron party leader demanded an investigation into the matter and said the state government should send a medical team on urgent basis to treat the injured lawyers. 

"The arrested lawyers are subjected to third degree torture. The Sambalpur superintendent of police himself used third-degree torture on the lawyers. Their family members were not even allowed to meet them," Mishra alleged.

Speaking to OTV, Mishra said, "A medical report should be prepared in this regard and stringent action should be taken against the errant police involved in the inhumane act. Even I was shocked to know that senior lawyers were subjected to third degree torture by the Sambalpur SP.” 

It is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court in a recent hearing made it abundantly clear that there is no requirement to create new benches of the Orissa High Court in a day and age when the use of technology, such as virtual courts and e-filing is so widespread.

Reported by Harihar Chand, OTV