TJ Joseph's case: Outcry over French attack, but justice awaited in Kerala

NEW DELHI | KOCHI: Even as the French terror attack puts focus back on the challenges to freedom of expression, a case in Kerala that has been dragging for five years with nearly half the accused still at large highlights India’s failure to set up any legal deterrents against such crimes.

In a 2010 attack blamed on Islamic fundamentalists, Professor TJ Joseph’s right hand was chopped off for “insulting” Prophet Mohammed in a question paper he prepared for B.Com students at Thodupuza’s Newman College, where he taught Malayalam.

The incident was widely termed as an attack on freedom of expression, a fundamental right. But the Church-run college fired Joseph from his job, accusing him of hurting the religious sentiments of a community, despite public furor against the move across the state. His hand was stitched back by doctors but he also faced other personal tragedies. His wife committed suicide last year because, the family members say, she couldn’t bear the trauma as they were facing financial difficulties and Joseph was getting threats on his life. Joseph got back his job before he retired nine months ago, but has yet to get his pension. “It is the usual red tape,” Joseph said.

Out of the total 54 accused identified by the National Investigation Agency that took over the probe from the Kerala Police in 2011, as many as 24 are yet to be arrested, including two of the seven who allegedly directly participated in the attack. Another 21 have got bail with one of them successfully contesting a municipal election, while nine are still in jail. The case is likely to be come up for final verdict in a month or two, sources said.

According to the charge-sheets filed in the case, the Popular Front of India ( PFI) was behind the attack. The initial charge-sheet was filed by the state police, accusing 27. The NIA filed two more supplementary charge-sheets.