Kannur: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 33-year-old Safeer C., a resident of Vilakkode near Iritti in Kannur district, for allegedly sheltering the prime accused in the infamous hand-chopping case of Prof. T.J. Joseph. Safeer was apprehended on Thursday, August 22, from the Thalassery court premises and taken to Kochi for further interrogation.
Safeer is believed to be an active member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and is also suspected of involvement in the murder of ABVP worker Shyama Prasad. Following the arrest of Savad, the mastermind behind Prof. Joseph's attack, Safeer went into hiding. A warrant was issued against him after he repeatedly failed to appear in court for the murder case. Acting on intelligence that Safeer would be present at the Thalassery court, the NIA apprehended him upon his arrival.
The attack on Prof. T.J. Joseph occurred on July 4, 2010, when PFI members brutally chopped off his hand in retaliation for a question paper he had set, which they claimed insulted religious sentiments. Despite being acquitted in November 2013, Prof. Joseph faced severe hardships, including the loss of his job and the subsequent suicide of his wife, Salomi, in March 2014 due to financial difficulties and depression. Savad, who had evaded capture for 13 years, was finally arrested in January 2024, thanks to the coordinated efforts of various agencies.
Safeer played a critical role in Savad’s ability to remain on the run by providing him shelter at multiple locations in Kannur and helping him obtain fake identity cards. He is implicated in five cases, including the murder of Shyama Prasad and other PFI-related activities in Kannur and neighboring districts.The NIA has also identified other PFI members who assisted Savad during his years in hiding. These individuals have since gone underground, fearing NIA action. Safeer’s arrest represents a significant breakthrough in the NIA’s ongoing efforts to combat Islamic terrorism, extremism, and anti-national activities in the country.
Safeer was produced before the NIA court in Kochi on Friday, August 23, where the agency sought his custody for five days. The court will consider the NIA’s request on August 29. In the meantime, Safeer has been remanded to judicial custody until September 20. The NIA has also filed a report further implicating Safeer in the hand-chopping case, solidifying his involvement in this brutal crime.
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