In a major development, an accused in the sensational palm-chopping case surrendered before the NIA Court here on Thursday.
The 38th accused in the case, Manaf of Palluruthy, was remanded in the judicial custody by the Ernakulam NIA Special Court. He surrendered before the NIA court at 1 pm on Thursday.
Manaf, who was at large after the incident, was declared by the NIA as a proclaimed offender. The accused surrendered before the court following a court order to attach any property, movable or immovable, or both, belonging to him.
The accused was a part of the conspiracy to carry out the attack on the professor, the prosecution held. Sabotaging religious harmony was the motive behind the palm-chopping incident, the NIA said. The custody of the accused will be sought on Monday. The custodial interrogation of the accused is absolutely essential since it is a terrorist case and the accused was aware of it. His custody is also needed to collect more evidence, the NIA officials said.
T J Joseph, a teacher of Malayalam at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was attacked on July 4, 2010, while he was returning home with family from the Church. He was pulled out of his car and his right palm was chopped off by the assailants. Joseph was attacked for preparing a question paper that had alleged blasphemous content.
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