Author: PNS
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: February 1, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/153619/Attack-on-nuns-All-17-accused-acquitted.html
A court in Kozhikode on Saturday acquitted
all the 17 accused in the case relating to the attack on a group of Christian
charity workers at a colony in Mambazhakkad Meethal, Olavanna in the district
in 2004. Fast Track Court judge Dharmarajan acquitted all the accused, all
of them RSS-BJP workers, on the basis of the Prosecution's failure to prove
the crime.
The attack on the charity workers, including
Brother Bernard, a foreigner, and some nuns, had come under attack on September
25, 2004 while they were engaged in charity works at the colony. There were
two attacks on them, accusing them of efforts to convert the residents of
the colony into Christianity.
Parties from both the UDF and the LDF had
held agitations over the alleged delay in arresting the attackers.
The case had gathered a communal colour after
different political parties began campaigns over it, and the police had to
face a lot of criticism for not nabbingt he attackers. However, the police
said that the victims of the attack were not prepared to cooperate with them
in the follow-up actions.
By the time the investigations had started,
the victims of the attack had got transferred from their base, a monastery
at Athanikkal.