Thiruvananthapuram:
The victim of a Taliban-style brutal attack, lecturer TJ Joseph is, recovering in a private hospital in Kochi. His right hand was chopped off by Muslim fundamentalists last week for preparing a question paper which allegedly contained derogatory references to Prophet Mohammad.
Joseph's hand has been rejoined after a surgery. His family says that though brutally attacked, he has forgiven his attackers and wants to put an end to the entire controversy.
"There is no use holding anger and hatred. He has forgiven them and he has done it with his whole heart. I have never tried to ridicule any religion. I love and respect all religions. This is what my brother has said," said Mary Stella, sister of lecturer TJ Joseph.
Joseph and his family are under tight police security amid fears that there might be fresh attacks on him.
Meanwhile, the police have started a crackdown on Popular Front of India, the radical group that was behind the attack. In continuing raids, police seized propaganda CDs containing information about Taliban and Al-Qaida-style attacks. Two people have been arrested and a hunt is on for the three main suspects in the case.
"We are on our way to expose the conspiracy and the men behind it. We are co-operating with agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and the NIA to contain this (fundamentalist) problem, identify its source and cut off its growth factors," said Jacob Punnoose, Director General of Police, Kerala.
Police say the activities of fundamentalist groups have been under the scanner for quite sometime but it is perhaps the brutal attack on the lecturer that has finally prompted the government to act tough.