India, April 19 -- The Bar Council of India (BCI) has issued a public statement condemning the attack on its co-chairperson, senior advocate YR Sadasiva Reddy, 'who was assaulted by unidentified men inside his chambers in Bengaluru earlier this week.

The BCI has called for the immediate arrest and custodial interrogation of the assailants who attacked Reddy.

BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, and vice-chairperson S Prabakaran called the incident "shocking" and a grave assault on the independence of the legal profession.

In its statement issued on April 17, BCI said advocates, regardless of rank or position, must be given police protection at their homes and offices if they face any credible threat.

"There must be zero tolerance for v...