Kochi: The NIA court has pronounced the punishment in the case of TJ Joseph, a teacher of the Malayalam section of Thodupuzha Newman College, hand chopped, who was accused of blasphemy in the question paper. The second and third accused in the case, Muvattupuzha Randarkara Sajil (36), Aluva Kunjunnikara MK Nasar (48) and Katungallur Ulyannoor KA Najeeb (42) were sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000 each. Aluva Katungallur MK Naushad (48), Aluva Kunjunnikara PP Moiteen Kunj (60) and Taikkatukkara PM Ayub (48) have been jailed for three years each.
The verdict was given by the special NIA court in Kochi. The court found six of the eleven people who faced the second phase of trial to be guilty. The court convicted them after it became clear that they were involved in matters ranging from conspiracy to assault.
The trial of the 31 accused initially arrested in the case was completed in May 2015 and 13 accused were convicted. The trial of the 11 accused who were arrested after that was completed on Wednesday. The investigation found that the violence was carried out by the Popular Front workers. Najeeb, the main accused in the case, is still absconding.
