Moment Sri Lankan sailor, Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva assaulted Indian Prime Mister Rajiv Gandhi in 1987 (Video)

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Wijemuni Vijitha Rohana de Silva (born 1965) was a Sri Lankan sailor and an astrologer. He is noted for his assault on Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 30 July 1987 at President’s House, Colombo. It was claimed by some as an attempted assassination. He later contested a general election under the Sihala Urumaya party in 2000.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi arrives and inspects a Naval Cadet Assembly. This occurred on July 30, 1987. Rajiv Gandhi was inspecting a Sri Lankan Honour Guard. A Sri Lankan Sinhala Navy soldier hit Gandhi with his rifle butt. Bodyguards rushed to surround Gandhi in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

While the inspection is going on and Rajiv Gandhi passes a cadet who tries to give a blow to the Prime Minister with his service firearm.

The perpetrator was instantly restrained by the Prime Minister’s security.

Vijitha Rohana faced a court-martial headed by K.R.L. Perera, Group Captain Buddhi Siriwardhen and Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne. He was charged with attempted murder and acting contrary to navy discipline and insulting a state leader.

Prosecuted by Senior State Counsel Captain Raja Fernando, his defence team included Sarath Wijesinghe, Susil Premajayantha and Donald Hewagama. The defence implied that Rohana was not aiming to kill since he could have stabbed the premier with the bayonet affixed to his Lee–Enfield rifle at the time.

The court-martial found him guilty of attempted culpable homicide not amounting to murder and insulting the Indian Prime Minister. He was sentenced to six years in prison, however, President Premadasa gave him a presidential pardon after two and a half years.

Watch the video from wildfilmsindia.com below:

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