Advocate Virender Narwal was shot dead in broad daylight by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in Delhi’s Dwarka area on 1st April 2023.
All the Bar Associations in Delhi have decided to abstain from work on Monday to offer condolences and demand investigation into the incident.
Senior Advocate KK Manan, Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD), stated that the lawyers want the assailants arrested as early as possible.
“This is not a protest. But we are going to abstain from work to show solidarity with our colleague’s family. We want the Delhi Police to nab the perpetrators quickly and complete investigation to bring justice to Virender Narwal’s family,” Advocate Manan stated.
On Saturday, two bike-riding assailants named Naresh and Pradeep shot and killed advocate Virender Kumar Narwal in Delhi’s Dwarka area. Police say Mr Narwal was killed because of a 36-year feud with Pradeep, his grandfather allegedly murdered Pradeep’s uncle in 1987. Advcoate Narwal is also accused of putting legal obstacles in some land compensation Pradeep was expecting.
Pradeep, a professional wrestler, found himself in financial difficulty as a result of this. He attempted to murder Advocate Narwal again in 2017, but the lawyer escaped unharmed and his driver was injured.
Advocate Narwal received police protection after the attack but it was withdrawn during the Covid pandemic in 2021.
The heinous murder in broad daylight sparked outrage among lawyers, who condemned the killing and called it an attack on the entire Delhi legal community.
“Incidents of threats and violence against lawyers are increasing day by day but no security has been provided to us or our families,” Advocate Vineet Jindal stated, the Secretary General of the North Delhi Lawyers Association.
The decision to abstain from work on Monday was taken at a meeting on Sunday of the Coordination Committee of All the District Bar Associations in Delhi.
According to the North Delhi Lawyers Association (NDLA), threats and violent acts against advocates are on the rise, but no security has been provided to them, even when their families are in a “vulnerable situation.”
“NDLA has been raising voice for the Advocate Protection Act for a long time, and now it is time to bring and implement the Advocates Protection Act with immediate effect in Delhi, as well as demand CP, Delhi police to take matter related to Advocate’s security on priority,” the statement reads.
The Advocates (Protection) Bill, 2021, provides greater protection for advocates and their functions while performing professional duties. Rajasthan is the only state that has introduced it in the state assembly.
