Court acquits all 17 accused in former SL Prez kin attack case

A court here today acquitted all the 17 persons involved in the case relating to the alleged attack on a close relative of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa here in 2012.
After hearing the witnesses on behalf of the prosecution, Judicial Magistrate Prabhakaran observed that the case had not been proved by the prosecution.
Suspected MDMK and Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam activists had on January 10, 2012 allegedly barged into the house of the Ramanathaswamy temple priest here and threw stones and slippers when a relative of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was about to perform a 'pooja.'
The activists were charged with hurling stones and slippers at his relatives after they got know that they had come to the island to perform a ritual for continuance of Rajapaksa's regime.

Rajapaksa's relatives including Thirukumaran Natesan and Nirupama Rajapaksa (then MP) had come to perform 'parikara pooja'.
Thirukumaran Natesan had allegedly sustained injuries in the attack by the group.
Natesan was said to be a regular visitor to the temple as a pilgrim.
Cases were filed against the 17 persons for trespassing, criminal intimidation among others.