By TCN News,
Kochi: The National Investigation Agency has taken up the probe into the hand-chopping case in Ernakulam. The central government has reportedly issued an order to the NIA to take up the case, making the number of cases it probes in Kerala to seven. The case deals with the incident in which the right palm of a college lecturer, involved in a blasphemy case, was chopped off by a gang on July 4, 2010.
The NIA took over the case a week ago, according to reports. A team of the NIA officials from Hyderabad had reportedly met Prof Joseph who was attacked and the spot of attack. The Agency is supposed to submit a primary report to the Home Ministry soon followed by a detailed probe by a special NIA team.
Prof TJ Joseph, lecturer of Malayalam in the Newman College in Thodupuzha, was involved in a blasphemy case in which he allegedly prepared a question paper with derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammed. He initially fled the law, but was arrested by the police and soon after which he was granted bail. He was attacked by a gang which chopped off his right palm on July 4, 2010 near his house at Muvattupuzha. The police investigation into the case led to certain alleged members of the Popular Front of India. However, the organization has denied any role in the attack. Meanwhile, Prof Joseph was expelled by the Newman College reportedly for hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community.
The special court in Ernakulam had, on March 11, rejected a plea requesting to give back to the owners the vehicles reportedly used by the accused to escape. Two of the accused MK Nasar and Yunus Aliyar used the vehicles to escape, according to the prosecution which opposed the plea.
A plea was submitted at the Kerala High Court requesting to hand over the case to the NIA. The special investigation team of the Kerala police submitted the chargesheetin the case on January 14, 2011. Out of the 54 persons accused in the case, 29 are still absconding. There are 255 witnesses in the case, 55 of them being from the police, according to reports. Central Home minister had earlier refused to hand over the case to the NIA citing that the state police had investigated the case well and submitted the chargesheet.