Lawyers urge Telangana DGP for strict action in advocate Swapna murder case
HYDERABAD: A delegation of lawyers from Chevella court, led by former President of the Federation of Bar Associations of Telangana State, Y. Kondal Reddy, met State Director General of Police (DGP) Shivadhar Reddy on Thursday. They called for immediate and strict action following the murder of Advocate Swapna in Kethireddypally village, Moinabad Mandal.
The delegation submitted a memorandum addressing the case and a pattern of increasing attacks on legal professionals in Telangana. They stressed the urgent need for systemic safeguards to protect those upholding the rule of law.
Revealing the details of the meeting with Telangana DGP, Kondal Reddy said “We explained the grave situation to the DGP. The murder of Advocate Swapna is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a growing threat to the safety of lawyers in the state. We demanded a comprehensive, time-bound investigation to ensure the culprits face the strictest punishment.”
The memorandum included a detailed account of the incident and a request for preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies. A delegation member stated, “We cannot perform our duty to society if we ourselves live in fear.”
Call for Telangana advocate protection act
The delegation noted they had previously submitted a similar appeal to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. In the meeting with the DGP, they reiterated their call for immediate enactment of an Advocate Protection Act for Telangana, arguing that such legislation would provide a legal framework to protect lawyers from intimidation, violence, and undue influence.
“We explicitly requested the DGP to appeal to the Honourable Chief Minister for the swift passage of the Advocate Protection Act. We also detailed the history of attacks on lawyers in the state to establish the critical need for this law,” Kondal Reddy said.
DGP Shivadhar Reddy reportedly responded positively to the delegation’s concerns. He assured a thorough investigation into Advocate Swapna’s murder and committed to pursuing strict punishment for the perpetrators. He also acknowledged the broader issue of lawyer safety and stated that steps would be taken to address these concerns and prevent future incidents.
The delegation included prominent Chevella court lawyers Sandeep Reddy, Prabhakar Reddy, Praveen Reddy, and Vineeth Reddy, as well as senior journalist Kranthi Kumar and VIP Human Rights representatives Munna and Mallika.
