13 convicted in Kerala hand chopping case

An NIA court here, on Thursday convicted 13 accused of chopping off the hand of a college professor. Eighteen people were acquitted in the case.

The sentence for the guilty will be delivered on May 5.

The right hand of T.J. Joseph was chopped off by activists of the Popular Front of India( PFI) on July 4, 2010, when he was returning along with his family members from the Sunday mass near his home in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district.

The PFI activists were incensed because Joseph, a Malayalam teacher at the New Man College Thodupuzha, allegedly made inflammatory remarks about Prophet Mohammed in an internal examination.

Though 31 people were arrested, one of the main accused and four others are still at large.

After the verdict, Joseph said the judgment was not going to have any effect on him.

"I have forgiven those who did this to me. I have nothing against them," said Joseph who last year faced another tragedy when his 48-year-old wife Shalomi Joseph committed suicide.

He added that he was waiting for justice from the state government.

"The state government had taken over my treatment expenses; they have paid only Rs. four lakhs, when I had to spend Rs 20 lakhs. Moreover, I am yet to get my pension and the salary when I was reinstated after being suspended," said Joseph.