Savad, the first accused in the Thodupuzha hand-chopping case was arrested by the NIA the other day. The controversy that led to the hand-chopping incident erupted after Prof TJ Joseph, who was working at the Newman College in Thodupuzha, included an innocuous quote in the question paper for a B.Com class examination. Following this, religious extremist organizations launched a flagrant agitation by TJ Joseph of insulting God. The decision of the organization's leadership was to chop the hand that wrote the question. As part of the conspiracy made in this regard, a group of assailants stopped Joseph's car on July 4, 2010, while he was returning from church. The group then took him out of the car and chopped his palm.

Savad was the first accused in the case. Savad, who went into hiding after committing the crime, had been living in hiding for the past thirteen years. Although the state crime branch and the NIA conducted searches for him across the country, they were not able to find him. The court had convicted thirteen of the 41 accused involved in the case in the first phase of the trial. The trial of the remaining 11 people was completed last July. Six more accused were also convicted. Even while all this was going on, the first accused was cleverly living a secret life in Kasargod and Kannur by avoiding the eyes of the investigating agencies. He was arrested while living as a carpenter in a rented house in Berakam in Kasargod with his wife and two children. The NIA had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for those who provide information about Savad. Even though Savad is now in jail, those who helped him to remain in hiding for so long are yet to be caught. It can be said that complete justice will be served in the sensational hand-chopping case only when they are found and brought before justice.

The fact that there are people to arrange all necessary facilities for the accused to lead a life in hiding after committing any heinous crime is a cause of serious concern. There are politicians who covertly and openly help such people. Criminals thrive in their shadow. Unravelling the conspiracy and the secret forces behind the hand-chopping case may not be so simple. The only thing common people can do is to guard themselves against the secret attempts to create division in the society by using religion as a shield. Although the Popular Front was banned for the threat it posed to the country and religious harmony, its invisible presence is still evident.

Responding to Savad's arrest, Prof TJ Joseph said that the real suspects and real culprits in the hand-chopping case are still at large. This response should not be dismissed lightly. Now that Savad has also been arrested, the investigating agency should be able to bring to light the conspiracy behind the incident and the prominent people involved in it. Even though Savad had been living within the state, the investigation teams were running behind the speculations. Savad's life in hiding in the state for 13 years is a failure on the part of the intelligence systems.