The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested the first accused in the Kerala hand-chopping case, 13 years after the crime. The central agency nabbed Savad Meerankutty, 38, from a house in Mattannur on Tuesday night.
An activist of the banned radical outfit Popular Front of India, Savad allegedly chopped off the right palm of T.J. Joseph, a professor with the Newman College in Idukki district's Thodupuzha on July 4, 2010. A group of seven men attacked Joseph while he was returning home with his family after attending a church service.
The accused claimed they planned to kill Joseph for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad in a question paper he set for a college examination.
The NIA had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information on Savad last year, Onmanorama reported.
For the past 18 months, Savad resided in the Mattannur Beram ward, assuming the alias Shajahan. He primarily worked in carpentry, along with non-Malayali migrant labourers. Following his arrest, his wife and two young children relocated to Kasargod.
Locals report that Savad had limited interactions within the community and was not actively involved in social or religious affairs. According to the residents, the family came to Beram from Iritty Vilakkodu. Savad originally hails from Asamannoor village of Ernakulam district.
Last year, a special NIA court awarded life sentence to three people in the case.
-with inputs from Nirmal Jovial
