All 17 accused in attack on missionaries acquitted

[joanne_h]

Kozhikode, Jan 31 (PTI) A court here today acquitted all the 17 accused in connection with the 2004 attack on seven missionaries, including two nuns, at Olavanna near here.Pronouncing the verdict, Kozhikode District Fast Track Court-I Judge Dharmarajan acquitted all the accused, who also included BJP-RSS activists, observing that the prosecution had failed to convincingly establish charges against them.The incident took place on September 25, 2004 as a group of people attacked seven persons, including the nuns, while they were engaged in the missionary works at Olavanna.The court has examined 35 witnesses in the case whose trial commenced on November 4 last year.The case, initially probed by the local police, was later handed over to the State Crime Branch Department led by Superintendent of Police Mathew Polycarp. PTI