Lawyers protest in Telangana after lawyer's murder

Hyderabad police have arrested an electrician named Gulam Dastagir for the murder of lawyer Errabapu Esrayal. Esrayal was stabbed to death outside his home in Champapet on Monday. Dastagir has been remanded in custody. In response to the murder, lawyers from the Nampally court protested by attempting to block the state assembly on Tuesday. They were arrested but later released. Lawyers in Hyderabad and across the state also stopped working to show their anger over the killing. Some advocates even held a demonstration in front of the Telangana High Court. The Acting Chief Justice, Sujoy Paul, assured the protesting lawyers that no harsh decisions would be made against them because of their absence. G Sanjeev Reddy, a secretary at the HC Bar Association, explained that both the Chief Justice and a public prosecutor helped secure the release of detained lawyers by the evening. Lawyers consider the murder an attack on their profession and are demanding that the government take immediate action to ensure their safety. They are calling for the creation of an advocate protection law to provide legal support, compensation, and safety for lawyers. One advocate stated that such a law would encourage fearless advocacy for citizens seeking justice. The Bar Association has planned to meet with the Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy, and the Chief Justice of the High Court to push for this protection law. Similar protests were also held in other local courts, including Rangareddy and Malkajgiri, urging stricter action against attacks on lawyers.