Kottayam: In a shocking incident on Wednesday morning, a man attacked a munsiff-magistrate inside her chambers at the Chengannur court complex. The accused, identified as Arun Mohan from Mulakuzha, allegedly barged into the chamber of munsiff-magistrate Amala Lawrence around 10 am while wearing a helmet and a raincoat. He reportedly confirmed her identity before attempting to assault her.
Judge and Staff Injured During Attack
Startled by the sudden intrusion, the magistrate ran towards the staff office. In her haste to flee, she fell twice, sustaining injuries. Two employees who intervened to stop the accused were also injured in the ensuing scuffle. According to police, the accused stomped on the chest of a staff member who had fallen. During the struggle, a glass bottle concealed inside his coat fell and shattered on the floor.
The magistrate managed to escape to the bar association office near the court, where she took shelter. Meanwhile, the accused attempted to flee but was restrained by court staff and autorickshaw drivers nearby, who then handed him over to the police. The injured judge and court employees were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Possible Motive Behind the Attack
Chengannur Bar Association president George Thomas revealed that the father of the accused had filed a case in the munsiff court seeking protection from his son. The father alleged that Arun Mohan had been repeatedly harassing him, trespassing into his house, and abusing him. Following this, the court had issued a restraining order against the accused. This may have provoked the attack.
Legal Action and Aftermath
A case has been registered against Arun Mohan, and legal proceedings are underway. In response to the incident, lawyers boycotted court proceedings at Chengannur on Wednesday. The attack has raised serious concerns about the security of judicial officers and court premises.
