Tamil lawyers in Jaffna reportedly boycotted the Court of Law, on Thursday, in protest against the arrest and brutal assault of a Tamil civilian by the Sri Lankan police.
Describing the conduct of the seven policemen involved as an "affront to the authority, dignity and the sanctity of the Courts of Law", they added that such conduct "constitutes a brazen and blatant violation of all norms of behaviour that are expected of the guardians of the law."
The civilian was arrested at the lounge of the Jaffna Courts Complex - an arrest the lawyers have stated was illegal.
The victim is then believed to have been dragged away and assaulted, including being stripped semi-naked and trampled on repeatedly.
The lawyers charge that at least part of the assault was witnessed by the Officer of the Courts, Attorneys-at-Law and members of the public, including the Learned Magistrate of Jaffna, yet none of the policemen involved have been reprimanded.
The decision to boycott came after a meeting at Jaffna Public Library.
