Kochi: A special NIA court here on Thursday sentenced to life imprisonment three persons, who are allegedly members of the now banned radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), convicted in the sensational 2010 case in which a college professor's hand was chopped off.
The right hand of T J Joseph, a professor of Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, was severed by the alleged PFI activists on July 4, 2010.
Following the trial's second phase, Special NIA Court Judge Anil K Bhaskar pronounced the life sentences for Sajil, Nasar, and Najeeb on Wednesday. The trio was found guilty under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code, and the Explosive Substances Act.
In the first phase of the trial in the case, 10 persons were convicted for offences under the UAPA as well as the Explosive Substances Act and the IPC, and three others were found guilty of harbouring the offenders.
While convicting the three, the court had noted that the second accused Sajil took part in the attack while the third accused Nasar, who was the main conspirator in the case, and the fifth accused Najeeb had planned the "terrorist act" but did not take part in it.
Out of the total 54 individuals involved in the case, 37 were chargesheeted, and 31 underwent trial proceedings.
In April 2015, the Special Court for NIA delivered its verdict, convicting 13 of the accused and acquitting 18 others. The convicted individuals were found guilty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, and the Indian Penal Code.
Seeking stricter penalties and contesting the acquittal of the tried defendants, the agency has approached the Kerala High Court.
The attack took place while the professor was returning home with his family after attending Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. Joseph’s palm was later sutured back at a hospital in Kochi.
The attackers, a group of seven people, pulled the professor out of the vehicle, assaulted him and his right hand was then chopped off by the main accused Savad who is currently at large.
According to the police officials who initially probed the case, it was the reference to Prophet Muhammad in one of the question papers for BCom exams in 2010 March set by Prof. Joseph that provoked the accused to attack the teacher.