Kochi, March 19 (IANS): The 48-year-old wife of a college professor, whose right hand was chopped off by activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI), was found dead in her house Wednesday, police said.

Shalomi Joseph was found hanging in the bathroom around 3 p.m. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police have begun a probe into the death.

The woman was a key witness to the crime involving her husband. The trial in the case is on.

Her husband T.J. Joseph teaches Malayalam at the New Man College in Thodupuzha, around 200 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.

Joseph's right hand was chopped off by PFI activists July 4, 2010 when he was returning home along with his family members from the Sunday Mass.

The PFI was said to be upset after Joseph reportedly prepared a question paper for a college examination that had allegedly inflammatory remarks on Prophet Mohammed. Over two dozen PFI activists were arrested. The case is now being probed by the National Investigation Agency.