A file photo of Joseph soon after the attack A file photo of Joseph soon after the attack

The NIA court in Kochi on Thursday found 13 alleged accused persons guilty in the case pertaining to the chopping of the hand of a professor, on charges of insulting the Prophet in a question paper. The court acquitted 18 others in the case. All the alleged accused were activists of the right-wing Muslim outfit Popular Front of India.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on May 5. However, five others in the case, including the main conspirator is still at large, although the NIA had probed the case.

Professor T J Jospeh’s right palm was chopped off by activists of the Popular Front of India on charges of insulting the Prophet in a question paper for an internal exam at Newman College, Thodupuzha, where he taught Malayalam.

Reacting to the verdict, Joseph said he had already pardoned the accused in the case. “I have pardoned them in the court of my conscience,” he said.

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