KANNUR: National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials detained Popular Front activist Safeer, who helped the main accused in the Thodupuzha professor hand-chopping case, to go hiding for more than 10 years. Safeer is a native of Kakkayangad Vilakkode and was arrested on Thursday afternoon from Thalassery court premises.

Safeer arranged the safe hideout for Sawad in Mattanur. Sawad, a native of Ernakulam, was the main accused in chopping the palms of Malayalam Professor T J Joseph of Thodupuzha Newman College on July 4, 2010. Safeer is also the 10th accused in Chittariparamba ABVP worker Shyama Prasad’s murder.

Sawad has been living in Kannur in disguise for eight long years. He was staying in rented quarters in Valapattanam for about five years. From here he shifted to Iritty Palakot. NIA says that the hideout was precisely planned. Sawad in the later years, while living in disguise, learned carpentry to make ends meet.