The National Investigation Agency (NIA) have arrested and booked a 47-year-old Kerala resident under terrorism charges for his alleged involvement in chopping off the hand of a college Professor back in 2010. The accused, identified as Mansoor Aliyar, hails from Ernakulam district and is believed to be a member of the Popular Front of India (PFI) or Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
SDPI, is the political wing of PFI, an activist group whose several members and leaders were arrested for chopping the hand of Professor T. J. Joseph at Muvattupuzha on 4th July, 2010. Nearly 31 people were accused of chopping off the hand of Professor TJ Joseph, who had allegedly ridiculed Prophet Mohammed in the Malayalam question paper prepared for the internal examination of B. Com students at Newman College, Thodupuzha, Idukki district. In a statement the NIA said out of the 31, 13 were “convicted for various offences including those under the UA (P) Act for committing the terrorist act”. Mansoor was found to be absconding, NIA added.
“On June 1, 2017 NIA had filed third supplementary charge sheet in this case against six accused persons including Mansoor for being party to the criminal conspiracy to attack Professor T. J. Joseph by creating terror, facilitating the attack by being members of the terrorist gang, destroying the evidence and harbouring the assailants or other accused persons involved in this crime,” agency officials said on Saturday.