India: NIA court sentences 10 accused in palm chopping case to 8 years rigorous imprisonment [allegedly members of Popular Front of India (PFI)]

NIA court sentences 10 accused in palm chopping case to 8 years rigorous imprisonment
Mahir Haneef,TNN | May 8, 2015, 11.44 AM IST

Convicted in palm chopping case arrive at NIA special court in Kochi for the verdict. (TOI Photo by Jipson Sikhera)

KOCHI: An NIA special court in Kochi on Friday sentenced 10 accused in the sensational palm chopping case to 8 years of rigorous imprisonment each.

Court sentenced the 10 accused for various offences of IPC and UAPA, with the maximum punishment being 8 years rigorous imprisonment.

P Sasidharan, judge of the court for trial of NIA cases, had earlier found guilty 13 of the accused under various IPC offences, including attempted murder, as well as for offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

They had chopped off a palm of a college professor for 'blaspheming' Prophet Mohammed in a question paper prepared by him.

The 10 accused were sentenced to 8 years rigorous imprisonment for UAPA offences. They were also sentenced to 8 years RI for attempted murder. However, the sentences are to run concurrently, the court said.

Five years after the incident that took place at 8am on July 4, 2010, the court on Friday also sentenced 10 of the accused under UAPA for being members of a terrorist gang.

As per prosecution case, the professor was returning along with his mother and sister after attending Sunday mass at a local church when they were waylaid and attacked by a seven-member gang, allegedly members of Popular Front of India (PFI). Savad Meerankutty, the first accused in the case, is yet to be arrested, so is 28th accused MK Naser, who allegedly took part in all the conspiracies for the attack.

After trial, the court had acquitted 18 of the accused, including a district-level leader of PFI for want of evidence.

Members of the gang who were sentenced by the court are second accused KH Jamal Hassan of Chowwara near Aluva, third accused KM Shobin of Venduvazhi in Kothamangalam, fifth accused Shamsudeen Makkar alias Shamsu of Mukundapuram near Vengola, sixth accused Shanavas Abdulla alias Shemeer of Valluvalli near Kottuvalli, and seventh accused Pareeth Aliyar of Manakkamoola near Kizhakkambalam.

The court had found that the gang committed a terrorist act on the ground of religious faith and promoted disharmony among religions. They were found guilty by the court for unlawful assembly, rioting with deadly weapon, wrongful restraint, causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons, criminal intimidation, promoting religious enmity, and attempted murder.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NIA-court-sentences-10-accused-in-palm-chopping-case-to-8-years-rigorous-imprisonment/articleshow/47198704.cms