NIA court convicts 13 in hand-chopping case

A special NIA court on Thursday convicted 13 people, owing allegiance to a radical Islamic outfit, in the the sensational hand chopping case of a college professor in Kerala in 2010 while acquitting 18 others.

Ten of the 13 have been have been found guilty under various sections of the central law dealing with terror – the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court, which posted the matter to May 5, is likely to pronounce the punishment the same day.

Eighteen people have been acquitted by the Special NIA court Judge P Sasidharan citing lack of evidence against them in the case. The 13 persons owing allegiance Popular Front of India (PFI) were convicted in the case in which the right hand of T J Joseph, professor of Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, was chopped while he was returning home after attending a Sunday mass at a church in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district on July 4, 2010.

Besides UAPA, the court has found the 10 guilty under various sections of Explosive Substances Act and IPC that deals with criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder.