Kochi: The special NIA court in Ernakulam on Thursday convicted 13 people in the 2010 hand chopping case of a college professor in Kerala, while letting go 18 other accused.
A group of radical Muslims in Kerala chopped off the hand of a college lecturer for alleged blasphemy.
The accused were charged under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act), Explosive Substances Act, Criminal Conspiracy, voluntarily causing injuries using dangerous weapons and criminal intimidation.
Professor T J Joseph of private Newman College in Muvattupuzha, was attacked by suspected Popular Front of India activists when he was returning with his family after Sunday mass on July 4, 2010.
The barbaric act, which triggered national outrage, was carried out as a punishment to the lecturer for allegedly preparing a question paper, which had some references to Prophet Mohammed. There were total 54 accused in the case.