2010 hand chopping incident in Kerala
Encyclopedia
The 2010 hand chopping incident in Kerala occurred on 4 July 2010 at Muvattupuzha
in the Ernakulam
district of Kerala
, India
. Joseph, a professor of Malayalam at Newman College, Thodupuzha
, a Christian minority institution affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University
had his hand cut off at the wrist as punishment on allegation of blasphemy, by Muslim radicals belonging to Popular Front of India
, a confederation of radicals fanatic Muslim fundamentalist and extremist (the information is based on the media reports but still it is not proved PFI is behind the attack and its activists are not yet announced as convicts by the court) organizations in South India.
Some reports indicate the attack resulted from a ruling from a "taliban-style" court. However, the state minister made a statement that government doesn't have information of such court, but there is a local formation of 'Dar-ul Khada' were functioning to resolve civil disputes in Kerala also which is formed under supervision of All India Muslim Personnal Law Board in different states.
, set a question in the Malayalam semester examination paper for BCom students in March 2010.
In the examination, question 11 asked students to punctuate a dialogue between a character and God
. The title of the question was to put proper marks i.e. comma, question mark or exclamatory mark in the sentences given below:
"Muhammad : God, God.
God : What is it son?
Muhammad : How many pieces will we get if we cut one Ayila (a type of fish)?
God : I have told you so many times that there will be 3 pieces."
The dialogue was viewed by some as derogatory. According to the constitution of India part III article 19; "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression." But some argued that a question paper could not be considered as a platform for individual expression. However the passage was based on a lecture by CPI(M) leader P. T. Kunju Muhammed
and included in a book – Thirakathayude Reethisasthram (Methodology of Screenplay), published by Kerala State Institute of Languages. In the original text, the character talking to God was unnamed; in the examination, Joseph is said to have referred to the character as Muhammed, which may be referring to the author KunjuMuhammed, while making it seem like a dialogue between God and Muhammed, the prophet.
The local edition of the Jamaat e Islami Hind newspaper, Madhyamam Daily reported the incident, sparking off the controversy alleging blasphemy. Several Muslim organisations protested the alleged defamation of the Prophet Mohammed. The Campus Front, the Popular Front of India
's student wing, launched an agitation against the professor. Student groups affiliated to the Indian National Congress
and the Indian Union Muslim League
also marched towards the college in protest. Copies of the question paper was circulated in sensitive areas by various Muslim organizations.
An all-party meeting called by the District Collector
decided to recommend action against the professor responsible for incorporating the question that reportedly hurt the religious sentiments of the community.
The state police registered a case under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code
(for causing communal hatred) against the professor who subsequently went absconding. The police then issued a lookout notice for him and arrested him a week later. He was then released on bail in April. The Newman College authorities also suspended him from the college and apologised for the mistake. His son was taken to hospital after being beaten up in police custody.
. Joseph was pulled out of his car along with his sister and 85 year old mother. They were attacked with knives, swords, axe and home made bombs. Prof. Joseph’s right hand at the wrist was chopped off and thrown away. He also suffered wounds to other parts of his body. His left hand from the wrist also have been severely damaged. His sister and aged mother of 85 years old also suffered injuries. According to police, the attack was carried out by an eight member team consisting of Savad of Asamannoor
, Pareeth of North Vazhakkulam, Shobin of Kothamangalam, Nazar of Aluva
, Shajil of Muvattupuzha
, Shamsuddin of Perumbavoor
, Shanvas and Jamal.
where he underwent an operation that lasted 16 hours.
Joseph gave a media interview from his hospital bed, where he stated that he had used an extract from a university-approved book on the Malayalam language, and that his opponents did not give him an opportunity to explain the situation. He said that the naming of the village madcap as Muhammad had been done to represent the original author, P. T. Kunju Muhammed
. Joseph's family made a statement that they forgive the attackers.
On 24 July 2010, his suspension from the college was revoked by the Mahatma Gandhi University
which described the issue as an "unintentional error". The attack on the teacher and his financial conditions were also considered.
On 04 Sept 2010, the management of college terminated Prof TJ Joseph from service with effect from September for hurting the religious sentiments of a community. Joseph who expressed grief over the management decision said that he never expected the same. He said that management has given the highest punishment for him and his family. Terming the action of management as irrational, Pro-Left writers, cultural forums and teachers unions came in support of the Professor.
PFI
leader Anas won the Vanchinad division of Vazhakkulam block in Ernakulam district in the civic body elections, while he was in judicial custody and lodged in the Viyyur central jail in connection with the case. He defeated his nearest UDF candidate by a margin of more than 1,000 votes.
, Asharaf and Jaffer on the same day. According to the police, Asharaf had been privy to the entire operation, and had arranged the vehicle used by the assailants. The vehicle was then reportedly handed over to Jaffer for dismantling.
On the night of July 4, Aluva ASP
J. Jayanath conducted a raid at the house of Mansoor, Eranakulam District Secretary of the Popular Front of India
at Kunnathery, Aluva and seized documents and CDs which revealed the connection of PFI
activists with the attack.
The State police was criticized when some of the officers of Ernakulam range made a deal with the Popular Front of India for ending investigation in the case. The move was reported to be thwarted by the involvement of state internal affairs minister. According to DGP
Jacob Punnoose a new investigation team under Thrissur Crime Branch SP
P.N. Unniraja was made in charge of investigation Punnoose also informed that the crime was well organized with pumping in money.
The Kerala State Police on 9 July 2010 issued 'look out notices' for three accused who absconded after the attack.
On July 8, 2010, a team led by Aluva ASP
J Jayanath unearthed a gun from the house of Ayoob, a leader of the Popular Front of India
.
The state police also raided the houses and offices of Popular Front of India
and its political arm Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) at Muvattupuzha
, Kothamangalam Perumbavoor
, Chalakudy
, Thrishur
, Angamaly
, Aluva
, Cochin and Ernakulam
.
The Kerala
state police seized explosives, country-made bombs, weapons and incriminating materials. A CD linked to Al Qaeda has also been seized from a PFI
leader Kunhumon,. The police eventually booked him under anti- terrorism laws. It is reported to be a propaganda CD with brutal killing and torture of westerners. According to Police, the CDs have been in used condition and were used to train PFI activists to commit the crime. It also showed that the organization had contact with international bodies. The CDs have been reported to be brought from either Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Gulf countries.
Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Muvattupuza, declared the absconding Popular Front of India
leaders, K K Ali and Nazar as proclaimed offenders.
A dentist, an active PFI
worker, had been arrested on charges of sedition. Dr Raneef, a native of Aluva
near Kochi
, had given first aid to one of the assailants who was injured during the attack. Two books that speak against democracy have been recovered from the doctor, who had been associated with extremist activities since 2002. Copies of one of the seized books, Islam and Democracy, had been recovered from a SIMI camp held in 2006 at Aluva.
On July 21, 2010, the Kerala police arrested the Popular Front of India
leader, who was suspected to be one of the conspirators behind the attack on Professor. Yunus, 33, a divisional leader of the PFI, was arraigned as the fourth accused in the case.
Based on the confessions of Yunus, cases of conspiracy have been registered against Shiyas, divisional secretary of PFI
's Nellimattam unit in Ernakulam
district and Mohammed Ali of Muvattupuzha
, while a case has been registered against Latheef of Aluva and MoideenKutty of Valancherry in Malappuram
district for harboring some of the accused involved in the attack on Joseph.
On August 13, 2010, The Aluva police led by ASP
J.Jayanath arrested six activists of the Popular Front of India
while they were holding a meeting and attempting to distribute propaganda booklets. 320 copies of the book "Asavarnarkku Nallathu Islam", which contained material tarnishing Hindu and Christian religions, were seized from the hall where the meeting was being held .
On 15 August, police arrested Niyaz against whom a look out notice had been issued in the case relating to the attack as he was traveling in a train from Tamil Nadu to Kerala.He was arrested when the train reached Shoranur. Niyas reportedly owned the Lancer car recovered by Aluva police from Kunjunnikkara on 29 July.
On 17 August, police team led by Debesh Kumar Behera, ACP
(South) raided Nanma books in Court Road, Kozhikode and a huge cache of books and compact discs containing incriminating and anti-national content were seized the publishing firm.
P Abdul Hameed, Kerala state general secretary of the Popular Front of India
, was questioned by the Special Investigation Team probing the hand-chopping case in Ernakulam on 17 August.Earlier on 16 August, Prof P Koya, chief editor of Thejas
daily and member of PFI
supreme council, was questioned at the Aluva police club by the SIT.
On August 19, Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials questioned Nazeruddin Elamaram, President of the Popular Front of India
at Muvattupuzha
.
Shamsuddin, one of the attackers in the team, who hails from Perumbavoor was arrested from Palakkad by the police on August 20. Based on the information provided by him police arrested Jamal from the Beemapally
area in Thiruvananthapuram
on August 28. Announcing Jamal's arrest, SP
P N Unnirajan, heading the SIT told the newsmen that the trial of the case would be conducted in the special court in Ernakulam where the NIA cases were also handled.
On August 26,The National Investigation Agency
(NIA) told the Kerala High Court
that they are not planning to investigate the case as charges framed by the police does not cover anti-national terrorist activities On the same day SIT questioned M Usman, Managing Director of Thejas
daily.
KK Ali, who purchased the van which was used by the attackers, from Lawrance of Thrissur, two weeks prior to the attack was arrested by SIT from Pollachi
on August 30.
Police arrested Shobin, a B-Tech graduate of Kothamangalam, and Shanavaz alias Shemy of Valluvalli near North Paravur, from the Coimbatore
railway station on September 6.
On September 6, 2010, the Kerala Government informed the state high court that investigators found no evidence of a connection between the Popular Front of India with Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Taiba (Let) or al-Qaeda.
On September 8, Kerala High Court
dismissed the bail applications of seven activists of Popular Front of India
- Siyad, Sikander, Kamarudeen, Abdul Lateef, Moideen Kutty, Shiyas and Mohammed Ali. Turning down their bail pleas, Justice V Ramkumar said the objective of the activity was to disturb harmony and tranquility of the society and to create fear. It would be held to be a terror activity.
On September 15, the Kerala government transferred four cases registered against PFI
activists to the Internal Security Investigation Team (ISIT) which probes terrorism-related incidents.
On September 17, the Kerala High Court
gave bail to Dr.Raneef . The complaint of Dr Raneef that the police conducted a raid at his residence and hospital to come out with allegedly incriminating CDs, leaflets etc. as he refused to oblige the Aluva ASP
J.Jayanath to become an approver by confessing that he was a conspirator in the hand chopping case, was accepted by the court while considering his bail application.
On October 7, Police arrested Pareeth of Vazhakkulam, who was directly involved in the attack from Mangalore
in Karnataka
. Some reports suggest that Pareeth, who was hiding in Mumbai
actually surrendered before the police in a deal with PFI
.
On January 3, 2011 the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court Judge V Shersy granted bail for the two main accused . Prime accused Jaffar (29) and second accused Ashraf (37) were granted bail on strict conditions . On the same day the Supreme Court bench comprising Js Markandey Katju and Dhyansudha Misrayesterday upheld the bail granted to Dr Raneef (ninth accused) by the Kerala High Court.
On January 14, police filed a charge sheet against 27 activists of the PFI
accusing them of attempt to murder and other offenses like IPC Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 202 (intentional omission to give information of offence), 212 (harbouring offender), 143 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 120(B) (Criminal conspiracy) and 323 (causing hurt).
Various Muslim organizations including the Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML) condemned the attacks as "against the tenets of Islam". A rally under the banner of Muslim Aiykyavedi (Muslim United Front) was organized the next day in Muvattupuzha
and Perumbavoor
. They also blocked the local police station at Perumbavoor
demanding the release of arrested Popular Front of India
leaders. The protest though was dismissed by other Muslim organizations as a ploy by the Popular Front of India
and challenged it to name any other organization involved in the protest. A meeting of all the major Muslim organizations in Kerala proclaimed that the hand chopping incident has been a shame to the Muslim community in Kerala. They have also decided to isolate radical outfits like Popular Front of India
and Jamaat e Islami Hind A number of Muslim youth organisations came forward to donate blood to the T.J. Joseph.
The Kothamangalam diocese demanded National Investigation Agency
inquiry in to the entire incident. The Bishop of Kothamangalam diocese, Mar George Punnakottil issued pastoral letters condemning the attack on Professor and demanding nabbing of culprits. The pastoral letter also defended the dismissal of the professor from the college. Prayer meetings and silent protest marches were also organized in various churches and locations. Christian organizations like Global Council of Indian Christians and Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) condemned the act and demanded that the attackers be brought to justice soon and be exemplarily punished. The Newman fraternity made a public appeal to extend a helping hand to Prof. T.J. Joseph. However, the Catholic authorities of the college dismissed him from the job and defend their action.
The Bharatiya Janata Party
set up a four-member panel headed by Mr Harin Pathak
(senior Supreme Court lawyer), Pinky Anand (Goa BJP Vice-President), Wilfred Misquita and Advocate Balasubramanium Kamarasu. The Committee met with the members of family of Prof. Joseph to get a first-hand report on the sequence of events during the attack. They demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency
(NIA) into the incident. Mr Harin Pathak
alleged that the Kerala
Government had failed miserably in combating terror and the State was becoming a breeding ground for terrorist activities. He also demanded that outfits like the NDF and Popular Front of India
should be banned and the State Government produce a white paper
on the investigation into terror activities in the state. He also noted that his party would highlight the gruesome attack on Prof. Joseph in the upcoming session of the Indian Parliament.
in its editorial said "Freedom of expression has increasingly come under attack from religious fanatics in democratic and secular India and it is the duty of society and the political system to intervene more effectively to defend those who are targeted even if they express unpopular views”. The Hindu also noted in its editorial that "The act of a gang that cut off the hand of a college teacher, by wielding an axe on a thoroughfare in Kerala in broad daylight, had Talibanism writ all over it. This act of barbarism, however, points to the rise of blood-thirst driven by religious fundamentalism that certain fringe elements may be seeking to impose on the State. That it was a planned operation carried out with brutal intent adds to the shock.".
Littérateur M.N. Karasseri, himself a retired professor and someone who keeps tabs on Muslim politics, noted in an Outlook
article, “The Muslim youth today are looking for idealism and adventure. They are being misguided by the proponents of Maududism that espouses a do-or-die battle for ensuring hukumathe ilahi (the rule of Allah). The SDPI (Socialist Democratic Party of India), Jamaat (Jamaat e Islami Hind) and several other outfits subscribe to this philosophy. If the rest of society does not realise the inherent danger, more Taliban-model reprisals will follow.”
Progressive Muslim writer Hameed Chennamangaloor says in an The Economic Times
article, "the circumstances are ideal for fanatics to convince their community members here that the problems their community faces in Iraq or Afghanistan are their own problems. The fact is that the problems of even the Muslims in Kerala are quite different from their community members in northern states. Some of these groups have more funds than even mainline political parties like the Congress or the CPM, and can hire any number of hands".
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
in the Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
district of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Joseph, a professor of Malayalam at Newman College, Thodupuzha
Thodupuzha
Thodupuzha is a town and a municipality in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 35.43 km2. It is 62 km from Ernakulam. Geographical Classification of Thodupuzha Region is Midland or Idanad....
, a Christian minority institution affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
had his hand cut off at the wrist as punishment on allegation of blasphemy, by Muslim radicals belonging to Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
, a confederation of radicals fanatic Muslim fundamentalist and extremist (the information is based on the media reports but still it is not proved PFI is behind the attack and its activists are not yet announced as convicts by the court) organizations in South India.
Some reports indicate the attack resulted from a ruling from a "taliban-style" court. However, the state minister made a statement that government doesn't have information of such court, but there is a local formation of 'Dar-ul Khada' were functioning to resolve civil disputes in Kerala also which is formed under supervision of All India Muslim Personnal Law Board in different states.
Background
T. J. Joseph, a professor of Malayalam language at Newman College, ThodupuzhaThodupuzha
Thodupuzha is a town and a municipality in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 35.43 km2. It is 62 km from Ernakulam. Geographical Classification of Thodupuzha Region is Midland or Idanad....
, set a question in the Malayalam semester examination paper for BCom students in March 2010.
In the examination, question 11 asked students to punctuate a dialogue between a character and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. The title of the question was to put proper marks i.e. comma, question mark or exclamatory mark in the sentences given below:
"Muhammad : God, God.
God : What is it son?
Muhammad : How many pieces will we get if we cut one Ayila (a type of fish)?
God : I have told you so many times that there will be 3 pieces."
The dialogue was viewed by some as derogatory. According to the constitution of India part III article 19; "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression." But some argued that a question paper could not be considered as a platform for individual expression. However the passage was based on a lecture by CPI(M) leader P. T. Kunju Muhammed
P. T. Kunju Muhammed
P. T. Kunju Muhammed is a noted director and producer in Malayalam parallel film industry. Magrib was his first film venture. He received a number of awards for his movies at the state level...
and included in a book – Thirakathayude Reethisasthram (Methodology of Screenplay), published by Kerala State Institute of Languages. In the original text, the character talking to God was unnamed; in the examination, Joseph is said to have referred to the character as Muhammed, which may be referring to the author KunjuMuhammed, while making it seem like a dialogue between God and Muhammed, the prophet.
The local edition of the Jamaat e Islami Hind newspaper, Madhyamam Daily reported the incident, sparking off the controversy alleging blasphemy. Several Muslim organisations protested the alleged defamation of the Prophet Mohammed. The Campus Front, the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
's student wing, launched an agitation against the professor. Student groups affiliated to the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and the Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
also marched towards the college in protest. Copies of the question paper was circulated in sensitive areas by various Muslim organizations.
An all-party meeting called by the District Collector
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
decided to recommend action against the professor responsible for incorporating the question that reportedly hurt the religious sentiments of the community.
The state police registered a case under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code
Indian Penal Code
Indian Penal Code is the main criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code, intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. It was drafted in 1860 and came into force in colonial India during the British Raj in 1862...
(for causing communal hatred) against the professor who subsequently went absconding. The police then issued a lookout notice for him and arrested him a week later. He was then released on bail in April. The Newman College authorities also suspended him from the college and apologised for the mistake. His son was taken to hospital after being beaten up in police custody.
The attack
On 4 July 2010, a group of eight people in a Maruti Omni waylaid the Professor near his home at MuvattupuzhaMuvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
. Joseph was pulled out of his car along with his sister and 85 year old mother. They were attacked with knives, swords, axe and home made bombs. Prof. Joseph’s right hand at the wrist was chopped off and thrown away. He also suffered wounds to other parts of his body. His left hand from the wrist also have been severely damaged. His sister and aged mother of 85 years old also suffered injuries. According to police, the attack was carried out by an eight member team consisting of Savad of Asamannoor
Asamannoor
Asamannoor is a village in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala.-Demographics: India census, Asamannoor had a population of 17947 with 8970 males and 8977 females....
, Pareeth of North Vazhakkulam, Shobin of Kothamangalam, Nazar of Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
, Shajil of Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
, Shamsuddin of Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor is a suburban region of Kochi city and a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies in the North Eastern tip of the Greater Cochin area and is also the headquarters of Kunnathunad Taluk. It is a Main Satellite Centres of Kochi City. Perumbavoor is famed...
, Shanvas and Jamal.
Aftermath
A neighbour rushed Joseph to Nirmala Hospital where first aid was administered, while the severed hand was collected and packed in ice. Joseph was taken to the Specialists Hospital in KochiKochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
where he underwent an operation that lasted 16 hours.
Joseph gave a media interview from his hospital bed, where he stated that he had used an extract from a university-approved book on the Malayalam language, and that his opponents did not give him an opportunity to explain the situation. He said that the naming of the village madcap as Muhammad had been done to represent the original author, P. T. Kunju Muhammed
P. T. Kunju Muhammed
P. T. Kunju Muhammed is a noted director and producer in Malayalam parallel film industry. Magrib was his first film venture. He received a number of awards for his movies at the state level...
. Joseph's family made a statement that they forgive the attackers.
On 24 July 2010, his suspension from the college was revoked by the Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
which described the issue as an "unintentional error". The attack on the teacher and his financial conditions were also considered.
On 04 Sept 2010, the management of college terminated Prof TJ Joseph from service with effect from September for hurting the religious sentiments of a community. Joseph who expressed grief over the management decision said that he never expected the same. He said that management has given the highest punishment for him and his family. Terming the action of management as irrational, Pro-Left writers, cultural forums and teachers unions came in support of the Professor.
PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
leader Anas won the Vanchinad division of Vazhakkulam block in Ernakulam district in the civic body elections, while he was in judicial custody and lodged in the Viyyur central jail in connection with the case. He defeated his nearest UDF candidate by a margin of more than 1,000 votes.
Investigation
The state police arrested two activists of the Popular Front of IndiaPopular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
, Asharaf and Jaffer on the same day. According to the police, Asharaf had been privy to the entire operation, and had arranged the vehicle used by the assailants. The vehicle was then reportedly handed over to Jaffer for dismantling.
On the night of July 4, Aluva ASP
Assistant Superintendent
Assistant commissioner, or assistant commissioner of police , was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank...
J. Jayanath conducted a raid at the house of Mansoor, Eranakulam District Secretary of the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
at Kunnathery, Aluva and seized documents and CDs which revealed the connection of PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
activists with the attack.
The State police was criticized when some of the officers of Ernakulam range made a deal with the Popular Front of India for ending investigation in the case. The move was reported to be thwarted by the involvement of state internal affairs minister. According to DGP
Director General of Police
In India the director general of police or inspector general of police is a three-star rank and the highest ranking police officer in Indian States & Union Territories. All DGPs/IGPs are Indian Police Service officers. The DGP/IGP is usually the head of the state police force in every Indian state...
Jacob Punnoose a new investigation team under Thrissur Crime Branch SP
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
P.N. Unniraja was made in charge of investigation Punnoose also informed that the crime was well organized with pumping in money.
The Kerala State Police on 9 July 2010 issued 'look out notices' for three accused who absconded after the attack.
On July 8, 2010, a team led by Aluva ASP
Assistant Superintendent
Assistant commissioner, or assistant commissioner of police , was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank...
J Jayanath unearthed a gun from the house of Ayoob, a leader of the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
.
The state police also raided the houses and offices of Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
and its political arm Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) at Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
, Kothamangalam Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor is a suburban region of Kochi city and a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies in the North Eastern tip of the Greater Cochin area and is also the headquarters of Kunnathunad Taluk. It is a Main Satellite Centres of Kochi City. Perumbavoor is famed...
, Chalakudy
Chalakudy
Chalakudy is a municipal town situated on the banks of Chalakudy River in Thrissur District of the Kerala State in India. It is the base camp for travellers to Athirappilly and Vazhachal Falls...
, Thrishur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, Angamaly
Angamaly
Angamaly is a satellite town of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is one of the entry points or gateways to Ernakulam district from northern Kerala...
, Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
, Cochin and Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
.
The Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
state police seized explosives, country-made bombs, weapons and incriminating materials. A CD linked to Al Qaeda has also been seized from a PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
leader Kunhumon,. The police eventually booked him under anti- terrorism laws. It is reported to be a propaganda CD with brutal killing and torture of westerners. According to Police, the CDs have been in used condition and were used to train PFI activists to commit the crime. It also showed that the organization had contact with international bodies. The CDs have been reported to be brought from either Afghanistan, Pakistan or the Gulf countries.
Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Muvattupuza, declared the absconding Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
leaders, K K Ali and Nazar as proclaimed offenders.
A dentist, an active PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
worker, had been arrested on charges of sedition. Dr Raneef, a native of Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
near Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
, had given first aid to one of the assailants who was injured during the attack. Two books that speak against democracy have been recovered from the doctor, who had been associated with extremist activities since 2002. Copies of one of the seized books, Islam and Democracy, had been recovered from a SIMI camp held in 2006 at Aluva.
On July 21, 2010, the Kerala police arrested the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
leader, who was suspected to be one of the conspirators behind the attack on Professor. Yunus, 33, a divisional leader of the PFI, was arraigned as the fourth accused in the case.
Based on the confessions of Yunus, cases of conspiracy have been registered against Shiyas, divisional secretary of PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
's Nellimattam unit in Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
district and Mohammed Ali of Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
, while a case has been registered against Latheef of Aluva and MoideenKutty of Valancherry in Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
district for harboring some of the accused involved in the attack on Joseph.
On August 13, 2010, The Aluva police led by ASP
Assistant Superintendent
Assistant commissioner, or assistant commissioner of police , was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank...
J.Jayanath arrested six activists of the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
while they were holding a meeting and attempting to distribute propaganda booklets. 320 copies of the book "Asavarnarkku Nallathu Islam", which contained material tarnishing Hindu and Christian religions, were seized from the hall where the meeting was being held .
On 15 August, police arrested Niyaz against whom a look out notice had been issued in the case relating to the attack as he was traveling in a train from Tamil Nadu to Kerala.He was arrested when the train reached Shoranur. Niyas reportedly owned the Lancer car recovered by Aluva police from Kunjunnikkara on 29 July.
On 17 August, police team led by Debesh Kumar Behera, ACP
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
(South) raided Nanma books in Court Road, Kozhikode and a huge cache of books and compact discs containing incriminating and anti-national content were seized the publishing firm.
P Abdul Hameed, Kerala state general secretary of the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
, was questioned by the Special Investigation Team probing the hand-chopping case in Ernakulam on 17 August.Earlier on 16 August, Prof P Koya, chief editor of Thejas
Thejas
Thejas is a Malayalam news daily run by Intermedia Publishing Ltd., a Public Limited Company based in Calicut. Thejas is the Malayalam mouthpiece of Popular front of india. It started functioning from Republic Day of India in Feb 2006. Within a short span of three months it started another edition...
daily and member of PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
supreme council, was questioned at the Aluva police club by the SIT.
On August 19, Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials questioned Nazeruddin Elamaram, President of the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
at Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
.
Shamsuddin, one of the attackers in the team, who hails from Perumbavoor was arrested from Palakkad by the police on August 20. Based on the information provided by him police arrested Jamal from the Beemapally
Beemapally
Beemapally, a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram , is right under the flight path of planes landing at the Thiruvananthapuram airport.The mosque at Beemapally is famous for the annual Urus. It is a good shopping area too...
area in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
on August 28. Announcing Jamal's arrest, SP
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
P N Unnirajan, heading the SIT told the newsmen that the trial of the case would be conducted in the special court in Ernakulam where the NIA cases were also handled.
On August 26,The National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
(NIA) told the Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court
High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court of Kerala is headquartered at Kochi...
that they are not planning to investigate the case as charges framed by the police does not cover anti-national terrorist activities On the same day SIT questioned M Usman, Managing Director of Thejas
Thejas
Thejas is a Malayalam news daily run by Intermedia Publishing Ltd., a Public Limited Company based in Calicut. Thejas is the Malayalam mouthpiece of Popular front of india. It started functioning from Republic Day of India in Feb 2006. Within a short span of three months it started another edition...
daily.
KK Ali, who purchased the van which was used by the attackers, from Lawrance of Thrissur, two weeks prior to the attack was arrested by SIT from Pollachi
Pollachi
Pollachi is a taluk of Coimbatore Rural district of the Tamil Nadu state of India. It lies in the southern part of the Coimbatore city around 40 kilometres from downtown Coimbatore. This is the second largest town in the District after Corporation of Coimbatore. Owing to the proximity to the...
on August 30.
Police arrested Shobin, a B-Tech graduate of Kothamangalam, and Shanavaz alias Shemy of Valluvalli near North Paravur, from the Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
railway station on September 6.
On September 6, 2010, the Kerala Government informed the state high court that investigators found no evidence of a connection between the Popular Front of India with Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e Taiba (Let) or al-Qaeda.
On September 8, Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court
High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court of Kerala is headquartered at Kochi...
dismissed the bail applications of seven activists of Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
- Siyad, Sikander, Kamarudeen, Abdul Lateef, Moideen Kutty, Shiyas and Mohammed Ali. Turning down their bail pleas, Justice V Ramkumar said the objective of the activity was to disturb harmony and tranquility of the society and to create fear. It would be held to be a terror activity.
On September 15, the Kerala government transferred four cases registered against PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
activists to the Internal Security Investigation Team (ISIT) which probes terrorism-related incidents.
On September 17, the Kerala High Court
Kerala High Court
High Court of Kerala is the highest court in the Indian state of Kerala and in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The High Court of Kerala is headquartered at Kochi...
gave bail to Dr.Raneef . The complaint of Dr Raneef that the police conducted a raid at his residence and hospital to come out with allegedly incriminating CDs, leaflets etc. as he refused to oblige the Aluva ASP
Assistant Superintendent
Assistant commissioner, or assistant commissioner of police , was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank...
J.Jayanath to become an approver by confessing that he was a conspirator in the hand chopping case, was accepted by the court while considering his bail application.
On October 7, Police arrested Pareeth of Vazhakkulam, who was directly involved in the attack from Mangalore
Mangalore
Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
. Some reports suggest that Pareeth, who was hiding in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
actually surrendered before the police in a deal with PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
.
On January 3, 2011 the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court Judge V Shersy granted bail for the two main accused . Prime accused Jaffar (29) and second accused Ashraf (37) were granted bail on strict conditions . On the same day the Supreme Court bench comprising Js Markandey Katju and Dhyansudha Misrayesterday upheld the bail granted to Dr Raneef (ninth accused) by the Kerala High Court.
On January 14, police filed a charge sheet against 27 activists of the PFI
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
accusing them of attempt to murder and other offenses like IPC Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 202 (intentional omission to give information of offence), 212 (harbouring offender), 143 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 120(B) (Criminal conspiracy) and 323 (causing hurt).
Response
The Kerala State Assembly raised its voice in unison to strongly condemn the hacking of T.J. Joseph, by fundamentalist elements on the following day.Various Muslim organizations including the Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League
Indian Union Muslim League is a state political party in the state of Kerala, India. The chief support base of the party falls inside northern and central Kerala...
(IUML) condemned the attacks as "against the tenets of Islam". A rally under the banner of Muslim Aiykyavedi (Muslim United Front) was organized the next day in Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha
Muvattupuzha is a municipality in Ernakulam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a junction of three districts namely Ernakulam, Kottayam and Idukki. The town is bordered by Kottayam district on southern side and Idukki district on eastern side approximately 20 km from the town...
and Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor is a suburban region of Kochi city and a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies in the North Eastern tip of the Greater Cochin area and is also the headquarters of Kunnathunad Taluk. It is a Main Satellite Centres of Kochi City. Perumbavoor is famed...
. They also blocked the local police station at Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor
Perumbavoor is a suburban region of Kochi city and a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies in the North Eastern tip of the Greater Cochin area and is also the headquarters of Kunnathunad Taluk. It is a Main Satellite Centres of Kochi City. Perumbavoor is famed...
demanding the release of arrested Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
leaders. The protest though was dismissed by other Muslim organizations as a ploy by the Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
and challenged it to name any other organization involved in the protest. A meeting of all the major Muslim organizations in Kerala proclaimed that the hand chopping incident has been a shame to the Muslim community in Kerala. They have also decided to isolate radical outfits like Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
and Jamaat e Islami Hind A number of Muslim youth organisations came forward to donate blood to the T.J. Joseph.
The Kothamangalam diocese demanded National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
inquiry in to the entire incident. The Bishop of Kothamangalam diocese, Mar George Punnakottil issued pastoral letters condemning the attack on Professor and demanding nabbing of culprits. The pastoral letter also defended the dismissal of the professor from the college. Prayer meetings and silent protest marches were also organized in various churches and locations. Christian organizations like Global Council of Indian Christians and Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) condemned the act and demanded that the attackers be brought to justice soon and be exemplarily punished. The Newman fraternity made a public appeal to extend a helping hand to Prof. T.J. Joseph. However, the Catholic authorities of the college dismissed him from the job and defend their action.
The Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
set up a four-member panel headed by Mr Harin Pathak
Harin Pathak
Harin Pathak is a member of the fourteenth Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Ahmedabad constituency of Gujarat and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.-External links:* * * fk...
(senior Supreme Court lawyer), Pinky Anand (Goa BJP Vice-President), Wilfred Misquita and Advocate Balasubramanium Kamarasu. The Committee met with the members of family of Prof. Joseph to get a first-hand report on the sequence of events during the attack. They demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency
National Investigation Agency is a federal agency approved by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The National Investigation Agency Bill 2008 to create the agency was...
(NIA) into the incident. Mr Harin Pathak
Harin Pathak
Harin Pathak is a member of the fourteenth Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Ahmedabad constituency of Gujarat and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.-External links:* * * fk...
alleged that the Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Government had failed miserably in combating terror and the State was becoming a breeding ground for terrorist activities. He also demanded that outfits like the NDF and Popular Front of India
Popular Front of India
The Popular Front of India is a confederation of Muslim organizations in India, including National Development Front, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and Karnataka Forum for Dignity etc...
should be banned and the State Government produce a white paper
White paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
on the investigation into terror activities in the state. He also noted that his party would highlight the gruesome attack on Prof. Joseph in the upcoming session of the Indian Parliament.
Media
The HinduThe Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
in its editorial said "Freedom of expression has increasingly come under attack from religious fanatics in democratic and secular India and it is the duty of society and the political system to intervene more effectively to defend those who are targeted even if they express unpopular views”. The Hindu also noted in its editorial that "The act of a gang that cut off the hand of a college teacher, by wielding an axe on a thoroughfare in Kerala in broad daylight, had Talibanism writ all over it. This act of barbarism, however, points to the rise of blood-thirst driven by religious fundamentalism that certain fringe elements may be seeking to impose on the State. That it was a planned operation carried out with brutal intent adds to the shock.".
Littérateur M.N. Karasseri, himself a retired professor and someone who keeps tabs on Muslim politics, noted in an Outlook
Outlook (magazine)
Outlook is one of India's four top-selling English weekly newsmagazines. Like many other Indian magazines, it is reluctant to reveal its circulation, but the 2007 National Readership Survey suggested 1.5 million copies...
article, “The Muslim youth today are looking for idealism and adventure. They are being misguided by the proponents of Maududism that espouses a do-or-die battle for ensuring hukumathe ilahi (the rule of Allah). The SDPI (Socialist Democratic Party of India), Jamaat (Jamaat e Islami Hind) and several other outfits subscribe to this philosophy. If the rest of society does not realise the inherent danger, more Taliban-model reprisals will follow.”
Progressive Muslim writer Hameed Chennamangaloor says in an The Economic Times
The Economic Times
The Economic Times is an English-language Indian daily newspaper published by the Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.. The Economic Times was started in 1961. It is the most popular and widely read financial daily in India, read by more than 8 lakh people...
article, "the circumstances are ideal for fanatics to convince their community members here that the problems their community faces in Iraq or Afghanistan are their own problems. The fact is that the problems of even the Muslims in Kerala are quite different from their community members in northern states. Some of these groups have more funds than even mainline political parties like the Congress or the CPM, and can hire any number of hands".