Lawyers of the Howrah Court staged a street protest and observed a day-long strike on Saturday, 3 October, demanding immediate arrests following a series of alleged attacks on advocates across multiple courts in West Bengal. The agitation blocked Mahatma Gandhi Road in front of the Howrah Court, disrupting traffic in the Howrah Maidan area for approximately 20 minutes, with buses and other vehicles stranded during the blockade.

Key Incidents Behind the Protest

Lawyers alleged that Calcutta High Court advocate Sayan Banerjee, identified as a CPI(M) leader, was recently assaulted and pelted with eggs at the Baruipur Court in South 24 Parganas district. In a separate incident on 1 October, lawyers claimed that outsiders attacked advocates at the Bankshall Court in central Kolkata while they were presenting an arrested YouTuber before the court. It was further alleged that female lawyers were also targeted in these incidents.

Strike Spreads Across Courts

West Bengal Bar Council member Mihir Banerjee told media persons that strikes were already underway in the Sealdah and Bankshall courts, and that the Howrah Court had joined the action. Lawyers in Howrah did not file any new cases during the day as a mark of protest. Mihir Banerjee warned that if attacks on lawyers were not halted immediately, the protest movement would expand to other courts across the state in the coming days.

Demands of the Legal Community

Agitating lawyers put forward two principal demands: the immediate arrest of all individuals allegedly responsible for the attacks, and the implementation of the Lawyers Security Protection Act. Although one person has been arrested in connection with the incidents so far, the remaining accused are reportedly still at large, fuelling the anger within the legal fraternity.

Political Response

West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh had previously stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not support political violence, specifically condemning the egg-pelting incident involving advocate Sayan Banerjee at the Baruipur Court. Ghosh had warned that action would be taken against those found responsible. The incident underscores growing tensions within the state's judicial ecosystem, coming amid a broader pattern of reported clashes between political groups and members of the bar across West Bengal.

With the Bar Council warning of an escalating statewide strike, the pressure on law-enforcement authorities to make further arrests is set to intensify in the days ahead.