Arab countries harbouring accused involved in hand chopping of Professor Joseph-NIA to court

Written by: GLOBAL COUNCIL OF INDIAN CHRISTIANS

Kochi: A Special Court on Wednesday(27th April) allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to conduct further investigation of the financial aid provided by certain Muslim organisations based in other States to the absconding accused in a case relating to the attack on T.J. Joseph, teacher of Newman College, Thodupuzha.The court issued the directive on a petition filed by the NIA seeking permission to conduct a probe into the suspected involvement of some of the organisations based in Chennai, Thirunelveli, and Hyderabad.GCIC demands justice for Christians and reposes hope in NIA to bring to justice the Islamic terrorists involved in the chopping of Prof. Joseph's hand and assault of his sister and mother

In its petition, the NIA said that some of these organisations were suspected to have provided assistance and shelter to 27 accused who had been absconding.

It said that the accused had gone to Gulf countries soon after the incident, and the investigation team suspected that they were activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

The NIA recently filed a charge-sheet against the other 27 accused. The NIA had listed as many as 54 persons as accused in the case.

According to the charge-sheet, the accused PFI activists had hatched a conspiracy to punish Mr. Joseph who had prepared a question paper for the B.Com. students of Newman College. The question paper had an alleged offensive question related to Prophet Mohammed and Islam.

Armed with deadly weapons and explosives, they went in a van with false number plates on July 4, 2010, and waited near the teacher's house at Muvattupuzha. When the teacher returned in his car along with his mother and sister after attending a prayer in the church, the accused stopped his vehicle, dragged him out, and chopped off his right palm. His mother and sister were also injured in the attack.

The accused had been charged under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 202 (intentional omission to give information of offence), 212 (harbouring offender), 307 (attempt to murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 323 (causing hurt), and 153(A) (promoting enmity among different groups on religious grounds) of the India Penal Code.

They had also been booked under various Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court had also issued non-bailable arrest warrants against the absconding accused.

http://www.persecution.in/content/arab-countries-harbouring-accused-involved-hand-chopping-professor-joseph-nia-court

Reprinted with permission from Global Council of Indian Christians