Christian professor's right hand chopped off

In a shocking incident, some unknown assailants chopped off a Christian professor's hand in the south Indian city of Kerala on Sunday morning.

Professor TJ Joseph Moolvattupuzha was returning home with his family after attending church when a car-borne gang with knives and swords stopped his car and pulled him out.

They chopped off Joseph's right hand for allegedly "preparing a question paper with objectionable remarks on prophet Mohammed in March 2010," said the police.

Investigation into the case led the police to arrest two activists of the Islamist organisation Popular Front. Incidentally, the activists had earlier openly declared that the lecturer's right palm would be chopped off for his controversial quote.

Currently, Joseph is under treatment at a hospital in Kochi. He is to undergo surgery to reattach his severed palm. He has also suffered cuts and wounds in other parts of his body.

Father Paul Thelekatt, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, expressed anguish over the attack and said it was the result of growing Talibanisation of the Indian society.

State home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and the state education minister M A Baby deplored the incident. Balakrishnan said the attack appeared to be a "conspiracy to target the fundamental principles of our country."

The attack has caused widespread shock and outrage across Kerala. Leading Muslim organisations have condemned the incident and called for tough action against the culprits.

In a joint statement, they said: "The attack on the professor was against the basic tenets of Islam and the Sunnah of the Prophet which laid emphasis on forgiveness. Islam explicitly forbade one from taking the law into one's own hands when there were competent authorities to deal with an issue."

"We hope that the law will take its due course to punish the criminals who attacked Mr. Joseph. They have clearly sinned and defamed Islam by committing this crime which we condemn without reservations."

Noted social activist and secretary of Citizens for Justice and Peace, Teesta Setalvad, also condemned the attack and said there was "surely better, more sane and democratic means to deal" if the question paper was either inflammatory or defamatory.

"Are we so fickle in our convictions and in our faith that we cannot tolerate discussion and debate? If the words or thoughts or sentiments of anyone hurt us, do we have the right to resort to barbaric and unlawful means of redressal?" she asked.