A National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Kochi pronounced the second phase judgment in the 2010 palm-chopping case of Thodupuzha Newman College teacher Prof TJ Joseph. The court found six of the eleven Popular Front terrorists guilty, including the main mastermind of the incident and Popular Front of India leader MK Nassar, a native of Aluva near Ernakulam. The trial of 11 accused, including Sajal, who participated directly in the act, has been completed.
Nassar, Sajal, Najeeb, Naushad, Ayyub and Moideen Kunju were convicted by court. Judge Anil K. Bhaskar found them all guilty. Three of them were found guilty of conspiracy, terrorist activity and attempted murder. The court acquitted the accused Aziz Odakali, Zubair, Shafiq, Mohammad Rafi and Mansoor for lack of evidence.
The court completed the first phase of the trial and pronounced its verdict on 30 April 2015. 11 out of 37 people were punished. All other 18 were acquitted and released. The trial of 11 people who were arrested after this has now been completed. The accused were absconding for many years after the incident.
Amazingly, the first accused in the case, Savad, a native of Perumbavoor Odakali, is still absconding. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for those who provide information about him but he remains untraceable to multiple investigating agencies.
Radical Islamists terrorist attacked Prof. Joseph alleging that there was blasphemy in the question paper prepared for the BCom Malayalam internal examination of Thodupuzha Newman College. The accused cut the palm of TJ Joseph who prepared the question paper. Joseph was attacked while under suspension following the allegations.
The state police who first investigated the case and the NIA later found that it was precisely planned and executed by the now-banned terror outfit Popular Front of India. The NIA also found that the accused had received financial assistance from abroad. All the accused went absconding after the incident.
The NIA, which has repeatedly arrested the accused who have been absconding for years, has completed the trial by filing separate chargesheets. NIA has charged the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against the accused.
