Kochi, August 17: The Kerala Government today informed the High Court that there were 49 accused in the case relating to the attack on lecturer T J Joseph, whose right hand had been chopped off, allegedly by activists of radical outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).
The Government Pleader informed a Division Bench, comprising Justice K M Joseph and Justice M L Joseph Francis, that 19 accused had been arrested and the remaining were absconding.
The submission was made when a batch of petitions by the relatives of the absconding accused, complaining of police harassment, came up before the court.
The government pleader gave an undertaking to the court that police would not harass the petitioners and investigation would be conducted.
The court recorded the submission.
Joseph was attacked on July 4 after he prepared a question paper which allegedly contained derogatory references to Prophet Muhammed.
–Agencies