Professor hand-chopping: Key accused surrenders

An alleged key conspirator in the college professor hand-chopping case in Kerala in 2010 surrendered before a special NIA court here on Friday and was remanded in judicial custody.

An activist of radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), MK Nasar, the 28th accused absconding since the incident, surrendered in court around 11 AM, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) official said. The court remanded him in judicial custody, the official said, adding NIA is likely to seek his custody for interrogation.

Nasar was the “chief conspirator and mastermind” of the July 4, 2010 brutal attack that sent shock waves across the country, according to NIA.

His surrender comes months after ten persons belonging to PFI were sentenced to eight years rigorous imprisonment by the NIA court in the case. They were held guilty of chopping off a hand of TJ Joseph, professor of Newman College in Thodupuzha in Idukki district, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of a community through a question paper he had set.