NIA arrests person accused of chopping off professor's hand

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 5 August arrested a person who is accused of chopping off a professor's hand in Kerala in 2010. The accused was absconding.

An FIR was filed against Masoor, 47, and certain members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for chopping off the hand of Professor T. J. Joseph, who had allegedly ridiculed Prophet Mohammed in the Malayalam question paper prepared for the internal examination of B. Com students at Newman College, Thodupuzha, Idukki district.

The FIR was originally filed on 4 July  2010 at the Muvattupuzha Police Station in Ernakulam District. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and consequent lethal attack on Professor Joseph.

On 30 April 2015, NIA Special Court in Ernakulam completed trial against 31 accused persons in the case and convicted 13 accused persons for various offences including those under the UA (P) Act for committing the terrorist act.

On 1 June 2017, the NIA filed third supplementary charge sheet in this case against six accused persons including Mansoor, for offences punishable under sections 118, 341, 427, 324, 326, 506, 201, 202, 212, 153(A) and 307 r/w 120B of the Indian Penal Code.

-ANI