The NIA Special Court here on Thursday convicted 13 persons in connection with the sensational palm-chopping case of a college teacher, while acquitting 18 others.
The case relates to the attack on T.J. Joseph, then a teacher with the Newman College at Thodupuzha, by a seven-member gang alleged to be activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI). The incident occurred on July 4, 2010, while Mr. Joseph was returning home along with his family from church.
Reserving the sentence to May 5, Special Court Judge P. Sasidharan observed that the accused committed a terrorist act on the grounds of religious faith and promoted disharmony among members of different religion.
Further, he stated that the prosecution proved beyond doubt the involvement of 10 of the accused, who had entered into a criminal conspiracy to cause Mr. Joseph’s death by inflicting grievous injuries. Of the 13 convicted, the court found 10 guilty under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Preventions) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in the crime, while the remaining three were charged under Section 212 of the Indian Penal Code for harbouring the offenders.
Those convicted under the UAPA were identified as the second accused Jamal, third accused Mohammed Shobin, fifth accused Shamsuddin, sixth accused Shanavas, seventh accused Pareeth K.A, eighth accused Younus Aliyar, 12th accused K.K. Ali, ninth accused Jaffar, 27th accused Shejeer, and 29th accused Kasim.
Of this, the second, third, fifth, sixth, and seventh accused have also been charged under the explosive substance Act, in addition to relevant Sections of the IPC, including 143, 147, 148, 427,323,324, and 326.
During the trial, the court examined 306 prosecution witnesses, four defence witnesses, 963 prosecution documents, 29 defence documents, and 227 material objects. There were 54 accused in the case, of which 37 had been charge-sheeted and 32 persons had undergone trial.
Some still absconding
Those absconding were the first accused Savad, fourth accused Sajil, 28th accused M.K. Naser, 30th accused Shafeeq and 33rd accused Azees Odakkali.
The attack was carried out in retaliation to Mr. Joseph ‘ridiculing' Prophet Mohammed in a question paper he had prepared for B.Com. students of the college, where he was teaching Malayalam.
