Bail denied to six who chopped off Kerala teacher’s palm

KOCHI - The Kerala High Court Wednesday denied bail to six people, who are accused of chopping the right palm of college teacher T.J. Joseph, saying that their “action created scare in the minds of the people”.

Justice V. Ramkumar came down heavily on the six and said their case was similar to a terror-related one.

“Through this act they have created scare in the minds of the people. Giving them bail would mean putting the teacher’s life on stake again,” the judge said.

Joseph’s right palm was chopped by activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) when the teacher was returning from a church in July.

During a 34-day stay at a Kochi hospital, Joseph’s severed palm was stitched back. He returned home last month and is currently recovering.

Joseph was attacked by a mob of PFI activists allegedly because he put inflammatory questions in the question paper he prepared for an internal examination of the college where he taught.

Police have arrested two dozen people for the gruesome attack and 51 people have been identified as being involved in the crime.

Joseph got another shock last week when the management of the Thodupuzha New Man College decided to terminate his services for the allegedly inflammatory question paper.

The management action came under widespread criticism from several quarters and sources here say the decision to terminate Joseph’s service might be revoked.