The Tribune, January 23, 2003

Lawyers get ransom letters
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, January 22
At least seven lawyers, including Mr Prem Atrey, president of the District Bar Association, Sonepat, Mr Ranbir Singh Dahiya, president of the district unit of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), and Mr Kamal Hooda have received threat letters, asking them to hand over Rs 28 lakh as ransom within 25 days, failing which they will be eliminated.

According to a report, xerox copies of the threat letters were thrown in their chambers in the mini-secretariat. The name of Bhagat Singh of Kundli village was written on them. This caused considerable panic among the lawyers. They held an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. Later, a deputation of the District Bar Association called on the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, and the Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, separately. The lawyers demanded immediate arrest of the miscreants behind the threat without delay. Both the DC and the SP gave assurances to the agitating members of the deputation that the culprits would be brought to book soon.

The senders of the threat letters have warned the SP of serious consequences if he dares to take any action against them. They have also pointed out that the lawyers who had earlier received the threat letters asking them to hand over Rs 5 lakh as ransom had failed to make the payment so far. Hence, they were now required to pay Rs 28 lakh as ransom within the stipulated period otherwise they would face the consequences.

Six lawyers of Sonepat, it may be recalled, had received threat letters on October 23 last year but they did not pay the ransom. Thereupon, they had gone on indefinite strike but called it off when the SP gave an assurance for bringing the culprits to book. Meanwhile, the association has made it clear that if the police fail to take action against the miscreants and arrest them in 15 days, it will take up the matter with the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.