The National Investigation Agency Court in Kochi on Wednesday convicted six persons for chopping off the right hand of Professor T.J. Joseph in 2010 for allegedly defaming Prophet Mohammed.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Anil Bhaskar delivered the judgement in the second phase of trial today.
The matter pertained to a question in an exam paper, which was set up by Professor Joseph, former Head of the Malayalam Department of Newman College in Thodupuzha.
As per the accused, the question contained a passage, which allegedly insulted Prophet Mohammed.
A group of men attacked Prof. Joseph and his family on July 4, 2010 as they were going to Church. The assailants chopped off his right hand and stabbed him in the left leg.
The first phase saw 31 people facing trial in connection with the incident. Out of these, 13 were found guilty in 2015.
In the second and current phase, 11 people, who had escaped after the first stage of the trial was over, were put on trial after being detained by the police.
These accused in the second trial included Sajil, M.K. Nasar, Shafeeq, Najeeb K.A. Azeez Odakkal, Subair T.P., M.K. Noushad, Mansoor, P.P. Moideen Kunju, Mohammed Rafi and P.M. Ayoob.
The court convicted Nassar, Sajil, Najeeb, Noushad, Kunju, and Ayoob, while acquitting Shafeeq, Azeez, Rafi, Subair and Mansoor.
Main accused Ashamannur Sawad, who is said to have chopped off the right hand of Professor Joseph as per the NIA charge sheet, was still absconding.
Kerala Police initially investigated the case, which was subsequently taken over by NIA on March 9, 2011.
The accused were charged with offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosives Act and relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, grievous bodily harm with a deadly weapon and criminal intimidation.
The quantum of sentence will be pronounced by the Single-Judge Bench at 3 pm on Thursday.