KOCHI: The Kochi NIA court has pronounced the second phase verdict in the hand-chopping case of Professor T J Joseph, who was a professor at Thodupuzha Newman College.

The NIA found that the Popular Front, a banned organization, had planned and executed the crime. Judge Anil K Bhaskar pronounced the verdict of the eleven accused.

The court stated that terrorist activity was proved in the case and found six accused guilty. Sajil, Nasar, Najeeb, Naushad, Moideen Kunj and Ayyub were found guilty. The court acquitted Shafeek, Aziz, Zubair, Mohammad Rafi and Mansoor. The court has cancelled the bail of the six convicts and ordered them to be lodged in Kakkanad Jail.

In the first phase, the court tried 37 accused and found 11 guilty and sentenced them. After the first phase of the charge sheet, the trial of those arrested was completed in the second phase.

The accused cut off the palm of Professor T J Joseph alleging that the question paper prepared for the BCom Malayalam internal examination of Thodupuzha Newman College contains blasphemy.