A special NIA court in Kerala on Wednesday convicted six persons, who are allegedly members of the now-banned radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), in the sensational handchopping case of a college professor in Kerala in 2010.
Special NIA court judge Anil K. Bhaskar found three of them — Sajil, Nasar, and Najeeb — guilty of offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as well as attempted murder, conspiracy, and various other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Explosive Substances Act in the second phase of the trial in the case.
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. In the latest order, the court noted that second accused Sajil took part in the attack, while third accused Nasar, who was the main conspirator in the case, and fifth accused Najeeb had planned the “terrorist act” but did not take part in it.
Three others — Noushad, P. P. Moideen Kunhu, and Ayoob — were found guilty by the court of the offences of intentionally not giving information about a crime and harbouring offenders under the IPC. The remaining five accused—Azeez Odakali, Shefeeq, Muhammed Rafi, Subair, and Mansoor—were acquitted by the special court. The punishments to be given to those convicted will be pronounced by the court on Thursday.
Professor T. J. Joseph, whose hands were chopped off by the attackers, said those who were caught and convicted in the case “were only the weapons,” and the actual culprits behind it are yet to be found. He opined that the judgement was only the implementation of the law prevailing in the country and did not amount to justice for the victim.
