Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jun 29: The state High Court (HC) at Kochi has declined the bail petitions moved by two of the accused in the infamous hand severing case. The case pertains to the cutting off of a palm of a person named Prof T J Joseph, head of the department of Malayam in Newman College Todupuzha, at Muvattupuzha on July 4 last year. The perpetrators of the crime were angry at the fact that some objectionable matter relating to Prophet Mohammed had been included in a question paper prepared by the lecturer the previous year.

While rejecting bail, the High Court said in no uncertain terms, that there is a need to take stringent steps against religious bigotry. The judges of the High Court, Justice A K Basheer and Justice P Q Barkat Ali, observed in their order delivered in the bail petition moved by accused Shiyas and Mohammed Ali, that the allegations levelled against the accused are ghastly, and felt for a need to strengthen measures against fundamentalism.

Seven persons have been named as accused in the case. The bail petitions of the above accused were earlier turned down by a single-judge bench of the High Court last year.

“A small group in certain religions have developed intolerance towards other religions. Religious bigotry in all forms needs to be crushed with strong steps. It is a disgusting that the Prophet was the subject of ridicule in the case. But the accused have forgotten that they are living in a country where citizens have been given paramount independence,” the order stated.

The judges observed that the religious minorities have been exhibiting lot of religious tolerance and coexist with people of other religions cordially. They said that there is no need to show any sympathy for those who try to vitiate communal harmony, as they not only bring disrepute to their country, but also to their own religion.

Another accused, Moideen Kutty, succeeded in getting bail.