By TwoCircels.net Staff Correspondent
Kochi: The attack on Professor TJ Joseph was a planned and organized one, said Kerala state DGP Jacob Punnoose. He was talking to media persons today after visiting the place where the professor was attacked.
The attack seems to be carried out by proper planning and using money. There is a clear conspiracy behind it. The police will catch hold of all those involved in the conspiracy. The police have got clear hints about the culprits but are not sure of where they are, he added. The DGP visited the house of the professor also. Meanwhile, Prof TJ Joseph yesterday said that he had pardoned his attackers, according to reports.
The police investigation on the attack is continuing with more raids. The police yesterday raided the house of Younus, reportedly a leader of the Popular Front of India and prime suspect in the case. The police are also searching for KK Ali, the person who is supposed to have bought the vehicle used by the attackers. They are reportedly questioning some persons who were caught in the last two-three days. Only two persons – Jafar and Ashraf – have been arrested so far and they are remanded for two weeks.
The investigation will also cover if there was any failure on the part of the police to take action on the complaint given by Prof TJ Joseph, lecturer of Malayalam in Newman College in Thodupuzha, saying there were threats to his life. Joseph reportedly began to get threats after he came out from jail on bail in the controversial question paper case. The question paper that Joseph prepared reportedly contained matter insulting Prophet Muhammed. When the matter became controversial, Joseph at first fled the police but was later arrested. The Catholic Church had to apologise to the Muslim community on finding that the lecturer was guilty. The case against Joseph was going on when the attack took place.
Joseph was attacked by a group of men on Sunday morning when he was returning home from the church nearby with his mother and sister. Joseph was pulled off his car and his right palm was chopped off by the gang before escaping in the vehicle they had come in. Joseph was rushed to a nearby hospital and then to the specialists hospital in Ernakulam for surgery. The chopped off palm was fixed after a 16-hour long surgery, but whether the hand can function as before is yet to be known.