City
Epaper

Death toll in Kerala blasts rises to 3

By IANS | Updated: October 30, 2023 10:20 IST

Kochi, Oct 30 With a 13 -year-old girl succumbing to her injuries, the death toll in the two ...

Open in App

Kochi, Oct 30 With a 13 -year-old girl succumbing to her injuries, the death toll in the two explosions that rocked the Christian convention centre in Kerala's Kalamassery has mounted to three, sources said on Monday.

The girl had suffered over 90 per cent burns in the blasts that took place in a hall where prayers were underway on Sunday.

She breathed her last, past midnight.

On Monday morning, teams of the NSG, including forensic experts, and NIA reached the spot.

Now all eyes are on the NIA, if they will take up the probe, as Kerala Police called it a "closed" case after one Dominic Martin from Kochi surrendered before the police claiming responsibility.

Martin told the police that he committed the crime "because Jehovah Witness was on the wrong track".

The Kerala Police claimed to have cracked the case after the relatives of the woman who died instantly after the explosion identified the body.

Till her relatives approached, the Police had suspected the deceased woman to be a "suspect".

Fifty-three-year-old Kumari from Thodupuzha- Kumari was the second woman to have succumbed.

Notably, Jehovah Witnesses are a group of Christians who do not identify themselves as Protestants.

The Jehovah Witness Convention is an annual gathering where large assemblies called Regional Conventions take place for three days.

The event had started last Friday and it was to end on Sunday.

Martin's arrest will be recorded later in the day.

Now, it remains to be seen whether the NIA will take up the case as according to the rules, the state government has to ask for it, if not, the Centre can take it up directly.

Investigations into the double-bomb blasts revealed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) hidden in a tiffin box was used to trigger the explosion.

Later, Martin told the police that he had come live on Facebook before the incident, which was verified from his mobile phone.

The police have identified the lodge in Chalakudy where Martin stayed.

As per the lodge authorities, the accused returned around 10.30 a.m on Sunday and vacated the room in ten minutes stating that he met with an accident.

He had produced his identity card before taking up the room.

Martin lives in Kochi in a rented accommodation after returning from Dubai, where he worked for the past six years, a month ago.

He was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

Politics"Government of MK Stalin must go:" Union Minister Piyush Goyal accuses DMK of Corruption ahead of Tamil Nadu elections

NationalDelhi Crime: 47-Year-Old Man Robbed of Rs 25 Lakh by Two Bike-Borne Men; Police Probe On

MumbaiMira-Bhayandar Raid: Midnight Police Roundup Exposes Illegal Activities at Orchid Bar; 13 Arrested

InternationalCountdown for new year starts in Nepal with commencement of week-long Biska Jatra

Cricket"Team feels emotional after a close loss": DC bowler T Natarajan after 1-run loss to GT

National Realted Stories

NationalAhmedabad: CBI Court convicts nine, including retired PNB officials, in bank fraud case

NationalAmit Shah condoles loss of lives in Vrindavan boat accident, prays for speedy recovery of injured

NationalNitish Kumar's Rajya Sabha move is driven by political pressure, says Tejashwi Yadav

NationalMinistry of Ayush marks World Homoeopathy Day 2026 with National Celebration on "Homoeopathy for Sustainable Health"

NationalHimachal High Court orders pension release to former MLAs; withholding benefits unconstitutional, says Senior Advocate