The Long Arm of Justice: NIA Intensifies Probe in Professor Joseph Hand-Chopping Case

It’s been over a decade, you know, but some wounds, some acts of violence, they just don't fade away from public memory. And for the National Investigation Agency, or NIA as we commonly call them, it seems their resolve hasn't wavered either, not one bit. Recently, they've really stepped up their game, initiating a fresh probe against a Popular Front of India (PFI) activist named Sajil. He's been, let's just say, a bit of a ghost, a long-standing fugitive, tied directly to the utterly shocking 2010 hand-chopping case involving Professor T.J. Joseph.

Ah, the Professor T.J. Joseph case. It's one of those incidents that truly shook Kerala to its core, leaving an indelible mark. Back in July 2010, Professor Joseph, who was teaching at Newman College in Thodupuzha, was brutally attacked. His right palm was actually chopped off by a group of assailants. Can you imagine? It's just horrific to even think about. The motive, as alleged, was deeply disturbing: a question paper he'd set for an internal B.Com exam supposedly contained derogatory references to Prophet Muhammad. This sparked outrage, particularly from the Campus Front of India, the student wing of the PFI, leading to those tragic events.

So, where does Sajil fit into all this? Well, he's believed to have been a key conspirator in this heinous act, eluding authorities for a painfully long time. The NIA, to their credit, hasn't forgotten. They had initially filed charges against 31 individuals in this very complex case. Following extensive trials, justice saw 13 people convicted, while 18 others were acquitted. But Sajil, he remained elusive, a loose end.

It's worth remembering, too, that the PFI itself, the organization Sajil was reportedly part of, faced a nationwide ban in 2022 due to its alleged involvement in various anti-national activities and acts of terror. This case, in a way, paints a clearer picture of the kind of extremism the authorities were grappling with. The recent arrest and subsequent probe against Sajil isn't just another legal formality; it's a powerful statement, really. It shows the sheer tenacity of the NIA, their unwavering commitment to bringing every single person involved in such egregious acts to account, no matter how many years have passed. For the victims, for justice, it means everything.