Kerala is on high alert after a blast at a convention centre in Kochi’s Kalamassery killed three women and injured at least 50 people, including children, on Sunday morning. Kerala Police teams and security agencies have conducted searches in public places including airports, bus and train stations in the afternoon.
Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian denomination, was holding a prayer meeting at Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Kalamassery when an improvised explosion device detonated around 9.40am.
A 12-year-old girl, who sustained severe burn injuries in the blast at the Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer meet in Kochi, passed away early hours of Monday, taking the death toll to three. The deceased, identified as Libina from Malayattoor in Ernakulam district, had suffered severe burns covering 95 per cent of her body.Two women, who were part of the gathering, had died on Sunday. They have been identified as 55-year-old Leona Paulose and 53-year-old Kumari.
Kerala DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb confirmed that it was an blast caused by an IED. He also issued warning against spread of fake news and hate speech on social media.
“All our senior officers are at the spot. We are conducting a thorough investigation, we will find out who is behind this and take strict action,” he added. Police later revealed that the IED was installed in a tiffin box
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Kerala Chief Minister regarding the blast. The Kochi Unit of the National Investigations Agency and teams of National Security Guards (NSG) bomb squad were dispatched to the scene to assist the state government.
The home minister spoke to the Kerala chief minister to take stock of the situation after the blast. The chief minister briefed the home minister about the incident. Local media, including Onmanaroma, quoted police sources as saying that they are probing the terror angle.
CM Vijayan, while speaking to media, said, “It’s a very unfortunate incident. We are collecting details regarding the incident. All top officials in Ernakulam are there. DGP is moving to the spot. We are taking it very seriously. I have spoken to the DGP. We will get more details only after the investigation.”
Two of the injured, including a child, suffered above 50 per cent burns in the blast. Around 2,000 people were reportedly at the hall when the IED exploded.
Hours after a series of blasts shook a convention centre in Kalamassery in Kochi, a man surrendered before Thrissur’s Kodakara police station, claiming responsibility for the attack.
The man, identified as Dominic Martin, claimed that he had set the bomb at the Zamra convention centre where a prayer meeting by Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian group, was being held on Sunday morning. The police have taken the man into custody for detailed questioning.
Martin, who claimed he is a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, allegedly told police that he sought reforms in the activites of the Christian group and that the bombs were detonated as his demands were not heeded.
