Ayodhya: Lawyers in Ayodhya are unlikely to represent the accused in the Ram temple donations theft case. Faizabad Bar Association is set to take a final decision at its general body meeting on Monday.Faizabad Bar Association president Kalika Mishra said on Sunday that local lawyers have agreed in principle to unanimously refuse to take up the defence of the eight accused. A similar stance was taken by Ayodhya lawyers in 2005 when the accused in the Ram temple terror attack were produced in court.Lawyers said they were angered by the alleged theft of temple offerings and are demanding strict action against all eight accused.“Our sentiments have been hurt by the theft of temple offerings. The lawyers of Faizabad have agreed not to plead on behalf of the arrested accused. The final decision will be taken by the Bar Association president and the general body. Further strategy will be decided after that,” said Bar Association secretary Shailendra Jaiswal.Advocate Vivek Kumar Singh questioned the police for producing the accused before the magistrate under heavy security. “Like in West Bengal, they should have first been among the public,” he said.Senior advocate Rajendra Chaudhary said, “Due to the act of a few people, residents of Ayodhya have got a bad name across the world. Stern action should be taken against these accused by adopting the bulldozer policy.”Meanwhile, police on Sunday conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight accused, including Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla and Ramashankar Yadav. The searches were carried out with local magistrates present, police sources said.The eight accused were sent to judicial custody till June 29 by an Ayodhya court two days ago. Police are expected to seek their custodial remand when they are produced in court on Monday.
