By TCN News,
Kochi: The police, on Friday, filed chargesheet against 27 accused in the case of attack on a lecturer in Kochi. The chargesheet submitted at the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court reportedly says that the accused were acting like terrorist organisation by punishing on their own the lecturer who had prepared a controversial question paper with blasphemous questions.
The accused are charged with criminal conspiracy, attempt to murder and others, under various sections of the UAPA, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act. There are 255 witnesses in the case, about 50 of them being policemen, according to reports.
Out of the 27 accused in the chargesheet, 25 have already been arrested. The chargesheet has excluded naming 29 accused who are absconding, as the police are yet to collect more details about them. The two who are absconding yet named in the chargesheet, are Savad and Sajil, reportedly. Savad, who was earlier named by the police as the 37th accused, is now the prime accused in the chargesheet. Sajil who is accused to have taken part in the conspiracy and the crime is the fourth accused.
Dr Raneef, who allegedly treated one of the accused and was recently granted bail by the Supreme Court, is the 15th accused. Anas, who led the march to the Muvattupuzha police station accusing the police of torture of Muslim youth after the attack and is presently the representative of the Vanchinad Division in the Vazhakkulam Block Panchayat, is named 20th accused. He was earlier said to be 47th accused.
The chargesheet also reportedly accuse that the PFI and the SDPI, of which the accused are alleged members, tried to create anarchy in the country by instigating religious hatred, provoking their followers and the rest of the Muslim community. The attack was carried out by the knowledge and consent of the leadership of the PFI and the SDPI, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the bail pleas of seven accused in the case was rejected by the court on Friday, as the court found that there was prime facie evidence against them and that there was a chance that the accused may threaten the witnesses. Some of the accused in the case were granted bail earlier, including Prof Anas, Dr Raneef, Jaffer and Ashraf etc. Non-bailable arrest warrant has also been issued against the 29 accused who are absconding.
Prof TJ Joseph, lecturer at the Newman College, Thodupuzha, was attacked by a gang and his right palm was chopped off on July 4, 2010. Prof Joseph had been under arrest for allegedly preparing a question paper with blasphemous contents and was on bail when the attack took place.