Kochi, May 8 (The Hindu): A Special Court for National Investigation Agency in Ernakulam on Friday awarded eight years imprisonment to 10 convicts in the case relating to attacking and chopping off the right palm of Professor T.J. Joseph in Muvattupuzha.

The court also sentenced three other convicts to two years imprisonment. The court ordered that out of the fine imposed on the accused under various provisions, Rs. 8 lakh should be given to Mr. Joseph as compensation.

The court had earlier found 13 activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) guilty in the case and had acquitted 18 accused. The incident took place in 2010.

The prosecution argues that the PFI activists had hatched a conspiracy to ‘punish' Mr. Joseph, who had set what the accused persons regarded as "blasphemous question papers" on Prophet Mohammed and Islam for the B.Com students of Newman College, an aided college at Thodupuzha.

Armed with deadly weapons and explosive substance, they waited in a van on July 4, 2010 near Mr. Joseph's home at Muvattupuzha for his return from a church. While he was on his way back in his car along with his sister Stella, a nun, and his mother Elikutty — a seven-member gang stopped his vehicle, dragged him out and chopped off his right palm. His mother and sister too were injured in the attack.

The accused were charged under sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 202 (intentional omission to give information of offence), 212 (harbouring offender), 307 (attempt to murder), 143 (unlawful assembly), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 323 (causing hurt) and 153(A) (promoting enmity among different groups on religious grounds) of the India Penal Code and under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Explosive Substances Act provisions.