Lawyers thrash accused in sexual assault of minor girl

Some of the accused arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl here were manhandled by a group of advocates today at a court complex.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court Advocates Association (MHAA) has decided not to represent the accused persons in the case considering the nature of the alleged crime, its president G Mohanakrishnan said.

As the repeated sexual assault of the girl by several men over a period of time at an apartment complex sparked strong public outrage, the angry group lawyers pounced on the accused when they were coming down the stairs at the Mahila court after being remanded in judicial custody.

Women constables on duty in the court complex could not prevent the attack, a video of which went viral in the social media in no time.

In the melee, eight of the accused were rushed inside the third additional family court on the ground floor while the remaining nine were sent back to the Mahila court as a tense situation prevailed in the complex.

The 17 accused were earlier produced before the Mahila court which remanded them in judicial custody till July 31.