Kochi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested former Popular Front of India Ernakulam district secretary Mansoor, accused of playing a key role in the conspiracy in the sensational palm chopping case. Mansoor was nabbed from his residence in Choornikkara near Aluva and produced before the NIA court which remanded him to judicial custody till September 4.
The 47-year-old had gone absconding soon after the crime in 2011. According to the NIA, he was hiding in different states. Due to strict monitoring at airports, he could not leave the country. The NIA, which had in June filed a chargesheet against him, carried out the arrest after a tip off. He was allegedly part of the conspiracy along with M.K. Nasar to attack Prof T.J. Joseph.
He also allegedly took part in the conspiracy to harbour the accused and extend financial assistance to families of the defendants. The NIA chargesheet says he willfully joined the terrorist gang with the knowledge of its purpose. On July 4, 2010, a group of PFI activists chopped off the right palm of Prof Joseph of Newman College involved in a question paper row.
