Kochi: The Kerala police team probing the murder of SFI leader Abhimanyu at Maharaja's College is trying to find possible links to the 2010 hand-chopping case of Thodupuzha Newman College teacher T J Joseph. Reports said the police may also charge the accused under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Investigators said the college murder had key 'operative' links to the other case and the CCTV footage analysis of the verdict day (in the hand-chopping case) may provide vital clues. The services of the NIA would be sought for this.

The police had arrested workers of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its student outfit, Campus Front, in connection with the campus killing. In the hand-chopping case, 10 PFI workers were sentenced to eight years rigorous imprisonment.

The police would examine the visuals of people who gathered on the NIA special court premises in Kaloor on May 8, 2015, when the quantum of punishment was announced in the hand-chopping case. The teacher was attacked for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a question paper he had set. He had to undergo a series of traumatic life situations after losing his palm. His wife committed suicide, allegedly unable to bear the constant pressure and glare. The college management too had not supported the teacher enough, as per reports.

Activists of the PFI and its political wing the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had gathered in large numbers on the court premises on the verdict day. The police had sought the support of visual media houses and private individuals in this regard.

Among the 31 who were named as accused in the hand-chopping case, K M Najeeb and M K Naser are still in jail as undertrials. On Wednesday, the police collected details of those who came to visit them there.

The police had on Wednesday carried out raids at the offices and residences of some leaders and workers of the SDPI in various parts of the state as it intensified efforts to nab those involved in the killing of the SFI leader.

At the same time, sources in the NIA said they had no proof as of now linking the accused in both cases. However, they confirmed that they were looking if any of the accused who were out on bail had any direct or indirect links to the attack in Maharaja's College.

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