Hand-chopping case: NIA court sentences three to life imprisonment

Ernakulam: A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special trial court here sentenced three convicts in the Idukki hand-chopping case of 2010 to life imprisonment. The court also sentenced three other convicts to three years in prison.

All six convicts were present in court as Special NIA court judge Anil K Bhaskar sentenced life imprisonment to Sajil, MK Nasar, and KA Najeeb and three year jail term to Noushad, PP Moideen Kunhu and Ayoob.

On Wednesday, six members of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) were convicted under the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act for attempting to murder Prof TJ Joseph of Newman College, Idukki, and chopping off his hand on July 4, 2010.

Responding to the media following the court's decision, Prof TJ Joseph stated that the sentence has no bearing on him.

"Let legal experts determine if the punishment was moderate or harsh. I realised that the court looked at the case through the lens of terrorism. Thus, by punishing the accused, experts can determine whether or not terrorist activities can be curtailed in the country or not," he added.

“I understand that they attacked me in the name of a primitive belief. They are victims of the same beliefs just like me, who is a victim of a law of tribal nature. It’s high time that all humans become modern citizens by imbibing scientific temper and embracing humanity and brotherhood,” he had said on Wednesday.

As per the NIA, all the accused in the case are cadres of the banned PFI, and they conspired to kill Professor TJ Joseph over his alleged derogatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed in a question paper prepared for the Malayalam examination for B Com students at Newman College, Thodupuzha, Idukki district, Kerala.

“The accused had carried out the barbaric daylight attack on the professor in the presence of his family members on July 4, 2010,” said the NIA, adding that the accused had attacked the professor while the family was returning from the church after the Sunday morning mass.

Kerala Police had, on January 10 in 2011, filed a chargesheet against 27 accused persons. Subsequently, the NIA took over the case and, following extensive raids, arrested and charge-sheeted another 20 accused. In April 2015, the NIA Special Court convicted 13 accused. This is the second verdict in the case.

(With Inputs from ANI)