Shillong, July 30: The Shillong Bar Association has suspended senior advocate A.H. Hazarika from its membership pending investigation after a law intern accused him of molestation. The Association has also strongly condemned the alleged assault and public parading of the advocate by non-state actors.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Executive Committee held on July 29, following media reports and social media posts that surfaced on July 28 and 29 regarding the allegations.

In a statement, the Association said it “vehemently condemns the act alleged to have been committed by A.H. Hazarika, Advocate against his lady intern,” adding that “such conduct, if established, violates professional ethics, constitutional values, and the dignity of the individual.”

The Executive Committee resolved to issue a show-cause notice to Hazarika and suspend his membership of the Shillong Bar Association pending investigation by the competent authorities, including the police and the Disciplinary Committee of the State Bar Council.

At the same time, the Association expressed serious concern over reports that Hazarika was allegedly apprehended, assaulted and publicly paraded from his office at Keating Road to Sadar Police Station by individuals who were not law enforcement officials.

“Regardless of the circumstances or allegations involved, no individual deserves to be treated in such a manner. Such acts amount to taking the law into one’s own hands,” the Association stated.

While reiterating its support for a fair and impartial investigation into the molestation allegations, the Shillong Bar Association stressed that the rule of law must prevail and that justice should be administered through due legal process rather than by acts of vigilantism.