Pollachi Judicial Magistrate 1 Lingam on Wednesday acquitted 19 Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionaries in a case of alleged assault on a Deputy Superintendent of Police. In April 2008, during the DMK’s inner party elections, a clash took place between two groups of DMK. Charge of the prosecution was that when a group of DMK activists led by Dravidamani went to the Udumalpet DSP office to file a complaint, another DMK group led by Velusamy prevented Dravidamani and assaulted him besides assaulting and preventing the DSP from discharging his duty. A case was registered in this connection. Observing that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt, the court acquitted Velusamy and 19 others.