Hand Chop – 8 Popularfront Terrorists hiding abroad

8 prof-attack accused hiding abroad: NIA
VR Jayaraj | Kochi – Daily Pioneer

The National Investigating Agency (NIA), probing the attack by Islamists on Prof TJ Joseph of Church-run Newman College of Thodupuzha, Kerala told a court in Kochi on Friday that eight persons accused in the case were hiding in foreign countries. There are a total of 52 accused in the case.

The NIA said in the affidavit it submitted in the Special CBI Court (designated NIA court) in Kochi that the eight Islamists hiding in foreign countries – most probably in the Gulf – included main accused and chief conspirator behind the attack MK Nasser of Aluva. The agency said that a total of 24 accused were yet to be arrested.

In an early morning attack on July 10, 2010 at Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district, a group of activists of Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (formerly NDF) had cut off the right hand of Prof Joseph in an act of vengeance for preparing a test paper containing questions that allegedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad.

A special investigation team of the Crime Branch of the Kerala Police had probed the incident first but the NIA took over the investigation in March last following intense demands for a Central inquiry and growing conviction that the incident had dimensions that went beyond local connections.

The NIA said in the affidavit, filed in the court in the contest of the examination of the bail applications of some of the accused, that an alert notice would be issued for the absconding persons with the assistance of the Interpol. It also told the court that inquiries into the role of funds from abroad in the attack on the professor were on.

The Central agency opposed the bail applications of the accused saying there was a possibility that they could flee the country if they were released on bail. It also said that the accused could try to destroy evidences, influence witnesses and indulge in more conspiracies. The court is likely to announce its decision on the bail applications on Saturday.

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