Margao, Jan 16 (TOI): The state government has decided to withdraw the case against all the accused in the 2012 Velim church attack case, the assistant public prosecutor (APP) Shilpa Nagvenkar told the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Margao, Pooja Kavlekar, on Friday, when the case came up for hearing.

Nagvekar told the court that she was in receipt of a letter from the state director of prosecution to that effect, provided the accused undertake not to file counter complaints against the government. The next hearing in the case has been posted for February 5.

The 22 accused in the case were charged with having formed an unlawful assembly with deadly weapons such as stones and glass bottles. Besides, having assaulted and pelted stones upon the police personnel, who were discharging their lawful duties. The three policemen who had visited the church to obtain intelligence inputs were allegedly confined within the church premises.

PSI Sandeep Kesarkar and other CRPF jawans were also injured in the mob attack. An offence was registered under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), besides Sections 143, 144, 147, 148, 186, 323, 324, 326, 332, 333, 341, 342, 353 read with Section 149 IPC at the Cuncolim police station.