By IANS
Lucknow : Lawyers from various bar associations in Uttar Pradesh stood together Monday to protest Friday’s synchronized blasts that ripped across the local courts in Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, leaving 13 dead and 80 wounded.
Work was paralysed in every court, including the high courts at Allahabad and Lucknow, as lawyers observed a day’s strike to mark their united stand against terrorism.
Later in the afternoon, lawyers marched down the city’s main thoroughfare, raising anti-Pakistan and anti-terrorism slogans. After going from one court to another, they marched in a rally to the state capital’s main crossroad – Hazratganj – where they burnt an effigy of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) as well as the now banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was earlier found to be involved in some terrorist strikes in the state.
Since the courts officially remained open, the premises were swarmed as usual by litigants who had to seek adjournments in view of the lawyers’ strike.
However, litigants remained at the receiving end on account of intensified security in and around the court premises, particularly in the three towns that were targeted by suspected HuJI activists Friday.
With metal detectors installed at all points of entry to the court premises and even frisking of visitors, long queues were witnessed at the court gates in Lucknow.
While lawyers staged demonstrations, paramilitary forces remained on guard at different strategic points in and around the court compounds.