Eyewitness says senior police officers, including the DIG, were present as the mobs attacked

Valawahengunawewe Dhammarathana thero has told courts that CM Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Duminda Dissanayake was leading their supporters in destroying the property of Dr. Raja John Pulle.

Witnesses including Dhammarathana thero who refused to testify in front of police have given evidence in the private chambers of Anuradhapura Magistrate Ruchira Weliwatta.

'In front of police'

The leading monk was speaking to BBC Sandeshaya on the evidence given to the magistrate.

Dr. Pulle was the Anuradhpura district organiser of the United National Party (UNP) during the NCP elections in August this year.

The only senior police officer missing from the scene was the IGP Valawahengunawewe Dhammarathana thero, eyewitness

The UNP has accused ruling party supporters of setting fire to Dr. Pulle's house and property on 20 August.

Dhammarathana thero has told the judiciary in Anuradhapura that ruling party politicians led the attack.

Senior police officers were around as the mob attacks the property, the eyewitness said.

"The only senior police officer missing from the scene was the IGP," Dhammarathana thero told BBC Sinhala Service commenting on the attack.

"Dr. Pulle was my doctor. He was a Jeevaka".

	Leading Budhhist monk says CM and his son were leading the mobs

The Buddhist monk said the mobs attacked his vehicle and tried to assault him as he went to the scene of the incident.

"My vehicle was attacked. I was booed; stoned at my vehicle. I was almost taken out of the vehicle and assaulted".

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling coalition won the provincial elections held on 23 August.

Dr. John Pulle was killed, together with NCP opposition leader Maj Gen Janaka Perera, in a suicide bomb blast on 06 October.

The hearing was postponed until 17 November.