The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday announced the arrest of the absconding first accused in the Kerala professor hand-chopping case, 13 years after the crime; The Indian Express has reported.

Savad, a native of Kerala’s Ernakulam rural district and an activist of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), had chopped off the right palm of the victim, T J Joseph, on July 4, 2010, claiming the college professor had insulted Islamic prophet Muhammad in a question paper at Newman College in Thodupuzha.

In 2010, Muslims in Kerala protested against Joseph alleging blasphemy against Islam. He was arrested and later granted bail in the case. Later, a court acquitted Joseph of the alleged blasphemy

Joseph was attacked in Muvattupuzha in the Ernakulam district, metres away from his house, while he was returning home after attending Sunday prayers at a local church. He was pulled out of his car and attacked in the presence of his mother and sister.

As per the report, the NIA has not confirmed from where it nabbed Savad, who was the only accused on the run till now. More than 50 other accused were arrested and charge-sheeted in two phases.

The NIA after taking over probe from the Kerala Police, found that the attack was an act of terrorism and slapped UAPA against the accused.