With counsel absent, judge declines to initiate hearing in Durgapur gang rape case

Onthe first day of their scheduled court appearance for trial, the accused in the alleged Durgapur gang rape case were directed to reappear on Monday, as no legal counsel was present on their behalf today.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Special Additional District Judge (Sessions), Lakesh Pathak, upon their physical appearance, asked the accused whether they had appointed lawyers or if the state needed to arrange legal representation. The five youths from Bijra villageappeared confused.

Meanwhile, the victim's boyfriend, Wasif Ali, who was also brought into the dock enclosure, stated that although he had hired a lawyer, the counsel failed to appear today.

Thejudgenoted that lawyers from the District Legal Aid Services were on leave, and thereforenonecouldbe engaged at present.

Yesterday, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court had permitted the accused to consult their respective legal counsels under Section 38 of the BNSS ~ a right they had been denied since their arrest in three separate phases.

DLAS lawyer Pooja Kurmi had applied for bail for two of theaccused ~ Riazuddin Sheikh and Safikul Sheikh ~ at the ACJM Court yesterday, but the plea was rejected. Today, at 250 pm, the Special ADJentered thecourtroomand granted the accused time until Monday to arrange legal representation.