KOCHI: The NIA Court has found 10 persons guilty of various offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the palm chopping case. The Court on Thursday acquitted 18 of the 31 accused, and found the 13 others guilty in the case, in which members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked and chopped off the right palm of T J Joseph, then a professor at Thodupuzha Newman’s College, over a question paper row.
Those found guilty by NIA Court Judge P Sasidharan include Jamal, 44, Chowara, Kalady; Muhammd Shobin, 28, Venduzhi Kara, Kothamangalam; Shamsuddin alias Shamsu, 37, Arakkapadi, Perumbavoor; Shanavas, 32, Kottuvalli, North Paravoor; and Pareeth K A, 36, South Vazhakkulam, Aluva, who were part of a gang that attacked Joseph and hurled bomb at him on July 4, 2010. The others found guilty by the Court were Yonus Aliyar, 34, Nellimattom Kara, Kothamangalam, who is PFI Muvattupuzha division president; Jaffar, 33, Methala, Kothamangalam; K K Ali, 34, Iramalloor, Kothamangalam; Abdul Latheef, 44, Kadungalloor, Aluva; Shejeer, 32, Muppathadom, Aluva; Kasim, 45, Kadungalloor, Aluva; Anwar Sadique, 35, Kadungalloor, Aluva; and M M Riyaz, 33, Nettur, Ernakulam. The acquitted persons were Ashraf, 41, Kalady; Sikkander Ali Khan, 34, Kizhekkekara, Kothamangalam; Shiyas, 30, Mulavoor, Muvattupuzha; Siyad, 32, Kottuvalli, North Paravoor; Dr Raneef, 43, Thottumugham, Aluva; Abdul Salam, 56, Thaikkattukara, Aluva; Kamrudheen, 34, Muppathadam, Aluva; Fahad, 30, Kurumaloor, ALuva; Niyas, 38, Kalady; Anas, 33, Vengola, Perumbavoor; K M Ali, Nirappu, 42, Muvattupuzha; Rasheed P M, 34, Paingattor Muvattupuzha; Mahinkutty, 38, Pallarimangalam, Muvattupuzha; Mohammedali, 38, Velloorkunam, Muvattupuzha; Moideenkutty, 40, Tirur, Malappuram; Manaf, 40, Palluruthy, Ernakulam; M M Niyaz; 35, Nettur, Ernakulam; and Noushad, 40, Ashokapuram, Aluva.
The persons who went into hiding and did not face trial after chargesheeted were M K Nazar, 45, Kadungalloor, Aluva, the mastermind of the crime; Savad, 31, Ashamanoor, Kothamangalam; and Sajil, 34, Randar, Muvattupuzha (Savad and Sajil are the first and fourth accused, respectively, and were among the group that assaulted Joseph); Shefeque, 28, Odakali; and Azeez Odakali, 34, Ashamannur, Kothamangalam. Nazeeb, 40, of Kadungallor, Aluva, was arrested by the NIA last month but did not face trial.
The charges against these persons have to be split, and trial would be conducted when they are arrested. The acquitted were released after the judgement was announced. Jaffar, K K Ali, Shejeer and Kasim, the accused who were found guilty and were on bail, were re-arrested. Abdul Latheef and Anwar Sadique, who were on bail but convicted, were permitted to remain on bail on assurance of sureties. The court has posted the case for further hearing on May 5.