Police summon Kerala PFI chief in hand-chopping case

MUVATTUPUZHA - Naserudeen Elamaram, Kerala president of the radical Muslim group Popular Front of India (PFI), was Monday summoned by police in connection with last month’s attack on a college professor, police sources said

Malayalam teacher T.J. Joseph’s hand was chopped off July 4 for allegedly preparing a question paper derogatory to Prophet Mohammed.

Jospeh, who teaches at the New Man College Thodupuzha, is on bail for preparing the alleged inflammatory question paper.

Elamaram has been asked to appear before the Muvattupuzha police Aug 12. Another top PFI functionary T. Koya has been summoned Aug 16, sources said.

Eighteen activists of PFI have so far been arrested for the attack.

The decision to summon the PFI president comes on a day when two office bearers of PFI — P. Abdul Hameed and Ashraf Moulavi — failed to appear before police.

The duo has sought a week’s time to appear before police.

In a related development, a court in Muvattupuzha Friday ordered the confiscation of all assets belonging to a man called Nassar, believed to be the mastermind in the attack on Joseph.

The state revenue officials Monday began the procedure for confiscation of assets belonging to Nassar, who has been on the run ever since the incident.

Joseph was attacked while returning from church with his sister and aged mother. His right palm has since been sewn back. Doctors say only time will tell if his hand will be normal like before.