Rajasthan lawyers protest over colleague's death

He had ended his life after alleged police harrassment

Functioning of courts in Rajasthan came to a halt on Thursday as lawyers went on a day’s strike in protest against the suicide of a lawyer practising in a lower court in Jaipur due to alleged police harassment.

Lawyer Murlidhar Yadav ended his life by jumping in a well in Barwada village of Samod area allegedly due to harassment by Murlipura Police of Jaipur over a property dispute.
The Rajasthan High Court has ordered the investigation of the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation. According to police, the deceased was a tenant in the Murlipura area and was a native of Samod.

A police official said there was a dispute over a property between Murlidhar Yadav and his landlord Shambhu Dayal Yadav. Police had arrested Murlidhar for forgery and attempt to murder. He was out on bail and went to his village and committed suicide by jumping in a well in the wee hours on Wednesday.

However, a lawyer said Murlidhar Yadav had purchased a house and the dispute arose after the registration of the house. He complained several times at Murlipura police station. However, police did not take any action.

According to president of district of bar association, Sunil Sharma, police started harassing Murlidhar after he booked a complaint. Sharma said Murlidhar was also arrested. He felt insulted and as a result  he committed suicide.

A case has been registered against the landlord and former SHO of Murlipura Bhopal Singh and a policeman Shankar Lal for abetment tosuicide. A police official informed that a case of attempt to murder was registered against him by the landlord and his wife at Murlipura police station.

Seven cases had been registered against Murlidhar Yadav. Police submitted a final report in five cases and two cases are under investigation.