Two more crucial arrests in Prof attack case

VR Jayaraj | Kochi – Daily Pioneer

The Kerala Police arrested two more key accused in the case pertaining to the Taliban-model Islamist attack on Prof TJ Joseph of Muvattupuzha even as Union Home
Secretary GK Pillai warned that religious fundamentalism was potent enough to cause concern for Kerala.

KM Shobin (24) of Muvattupuzha and Shanavaz (28) of Kothamangalam, said to be activists of the Popular Front of India, were arrested from Coimbatore late Monday night. According to the Special Investigation Team of the Kerala Police probing the incident, Shobin and Shanavaz had directly participated in the attack on the professor.

With this, four of the total seven Islamists with direct involvement in the attack had fallen into the police net. They had earlier arrested Jamal and Shamsuddeen, two others with direct involvement. Shobin was one of those who had hacked the professor while Shanavaz had created an atmosphere of terror during the attack by hurling bombs.

Shanavaz was working as a Cable TV operator while Shobin was an engineering student. They had participated in the attack upon instructions from local PFI leader MK Nasser, the chief conspirator and mastermind. Till now, the police have arrested 24 of the total 51 accused in the case.

The Islamists had cut off the right hand of Joseph, Malayalam professor of Church-run Newman College on July 4 for preparing a question paper which allegedly contained blasphemous references to Prophet Muhammad. The college management had removed him from service with effect from September 1.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary GK Pillai said in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday that religious fundamentalism was something that Kerala might have to worry about in the future. Pillai had said the other day that the NIA would not take over the investigation into attack on the professor from the Kerala Police.

Pillai, who held discussions with Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, told newsmen that Kerala should be vigilant about the threat of fundamentalism though the State was peaceful with respect to law an order compared to several other states. Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose also took part in the discussions.

“Religious fundamentalism is a cause for concern. We should not allow it to grow. We need to take effective steps to contain the menace. Otherwise it could pose a serious threat to Kerala in the future,” Pillai said. He said discussions were held on the threat of fundamentalism and hawala dealings.

Home Minister Kodiyeri termed the discussions as satisfactory and said it gave him the opportunity to present the State’s security concerns to the Centre. He said the NIA should take care to adopt a stand that was helpful to the State in checking the spread of crimes while it probed cases in other states.

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