KOCHI: The Kochi NIA court has sentenced the first three accused in the Professor T J Joseph palm-chopping case to life imprisonment.The second accused Sajil (36) from Muvattupuzha, the third accused M K Nazar (48) from Aluva and the fifth accused Najeeb (42) from Kadungalloor were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The remaining three accused who were found guilty yesterday were sentenced to three years in prison. The 9th accused MK Naushad (48), the 11th accused P P Moideenkunj (60) and the 12th accused PM Ayub (48) were each sentenced to three years imprisonment. The court has granted bail to them.

In response, Prof. T J Joseph said that it didn't matter to him what sort of punishment the accused received. He also added that the political observers and lawyers will decide whether the acts of terrorism in the country will be alleviated by punishing the accused.

The second phase verdict was announced by the court the previous day. The NIA found that the Popular Front, a banned organization, had planned and executed it. 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 punished. The court acquitted five. Shafeek, Aziz, Zubair, Mohammad Rafi and Mansoor were acquitted.

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 TJ Joseph alleging that the question paper prepared for the BCom Malayalam internal examination of Thodupuzha Newman College contains blasphemy.