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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Special NIA court acquits five in the case, which involved an attack on professor TJ Joseph by a gang of Islamic fundamentalists
THODUPUZHA, KERALA: The Special NIA court in Ernakulam has convicted six accused in the sensational 2010 hand-chopping case, whereas five of them were acquitted.
The case pertains to the brutal attack on Professor TJ Joseph, who was attacked by a gang of Islamic fundamentalists alleging ‘blasphemy’ while setting a question paper at the Newman College in Thodupuzha in the Idukki district.
The Special Court judge, Anil K Bhaskar, found them guilty of attempted murder, conspiracy and various other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the second phase of the trial in the case.
The court convicted Sajil, Nazar, Najeeb, Noushad, Moitheeen Kunju and Ayoob. Meanwhile, Shafeeq, Asees Odakkali, Mohammad Rafi, Subaid and Manzoor were acquitted.
TJ Joseph, the Malayalam professor who was attacked, stated that the verdict by the NIA court, which convicted six persons, has not served any personal justice to him. He said that the attackers were victims of centuries-old tribal belief systems and the real perpetrators who ordered the attackers are still missing.
“I believe that the accused, who have been convicted in the case, are themselves victims like me. They attacked a stranger like me because they believe in a tribal ideology that existed centuries ago”, said Professor Joseph.
The right hand of Joseph was allegedly chopped off by activists of the now-outlawed Islamic outfit PFI on July 4, 2010.
The attack took place while he was returning home with his family after attending a Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district.
The attackers, a group of seven people, pulled the professor out of the vehicle and assaulted him. The main accused, Savad, who is still absconding, chopped off Joseph’s right hand.
According to the police that initially probed the case, the accused wanted to kill Joseph for making derogatory religious remarks in a question paper he set for the BCom semester examination.
The quantum of punishment for the six convicted persons will be pronounced by the NIA court tomorrow.
