KOCHI: The investigation into the T J Joseph hand chopping case is still in its initial stages as two key accused fifth accused M K Nazar and 37th accused Savad, who is the prime assailant in the case are absconding, the state government submitted before the Kerala High Court on Tuesday.
On interrogation of the state leaders of the Popular Front of India (PFI), including Abdul Hameed, Nazarudheen Elamaram and Prof Koya, it has been identified that they are the former district or state leaders of SIMI, a banned organisation, the government affidavit said.
In a search conducted in the house of 46th accused Noushad, two issues of Vivekam, a fortnightly published by SIMI, were seized. This shows their connection with SIMI, the state government submitted.
In a statement submitted by Muvattupuzha DySP K M Sabu Mathew, the state opposed the bail petitions submitted by seven accused in the case. The seven accused, including the fourth accused Yoonus, submitted appeals challenging the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court's order setting aside their bail applications.
"The culprits had acted as a terrorist gang and 29 out of a total of 54 accused are still absconding. The source of the explosives, the money used to buy the Maruti Omni Van and a motorcycle, forging of identity cards to get SIM cards and the role of the PFI leaders in the crime are yet to be found out," the statement said, adding that chemical reports of the glass pieces, explosives and bloodstains found in the van, which were collected from the scene, is awaited.
According to the statement, "the investigation of the case by the Muvattupuzha police have unveiled the communal and fundamentalist thinking of the PFI and its frontal organisations, which was found astonishing and unparalleled. The witnesses are reluctant to depose and the daredevil act of the accused has forced the public to think twice before passing on information to the investigating agency."
The statement further said the PFI had even gone to the extent of threatening the CI, Kothamangalam, who is a member of the investigation team with dire consequences if he proceeds with the investigation.