Hand chopping case: One more accused held

Friday, February 17, 2012: One more person has been arrested on Friday in connection with the case related to assault on Professor TJ Joseph at Muvatupuzha by National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The accused has been identified as Amar Ashraf, a native of Thodupuzha. According to NIA, he played a crucial role in the palm chopping case.
The 2010 hand chopping incident in Kerala occurred on 4 July 2010 at Muvattupuzha in the Kottayam district. Joseph, a professor of Malayalam at Newman College, Thodupuzha, and a Christian minority institution affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University had his hand cut off at the wrist on allegation of blasphemy by Muslim radicals belonging to Popular Front of India, a confederation of radical fanatic Muslim fundamentalist and extremist.