KOZHIKODE: With the Assembly elections approaching, the areas notorious for bomb-making in the Nadapuram-Kuttiadi region of the district have become active with a series of bomb blasts. Four persons were injured in a blast on Wednesday night. There were a few bomb-throwing incidents also. The police have intensified the checks on abandoned houses and open areas, especially in the Thalassery-Chokli-Nadapuram belt.
Rural SP Prateesh Kumar told DC that the four men who were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital and Government Hospital, Kuttiady, following the bomb blast would be interrogated as soon as the medical reports are ready. Linesh, 26, Vannathi Meethal, Chelakkad; Lineesh, 24, Narippatta; Vivek, 35, Thaniyullathil; and Vijesh, 31, Chembottummal, Theruvam Parambu were the injured. A DYFi worker Vishnu, Payanthong Poovullathil, who was in the area of blast, was taken into custody.
A total of 11 steel bombs and bomb-making materials were seized from Theruvanparambu, near Kallachi, Nadapuram. Police confirmed that the blast occurred while making bombs. They are also checking whether more people were involved in the incident.
The CPM district committee denied any connection with the blast and demanded a comprehensive probe. Locals say that it was the third time that big and small blasts were taking place in the region around Kummamkode after the elections were declared. However, police say that they were not bombs, but modified crackers.
“There are issues of bomb-making and bomb testing in the area. In some cases, the people belonging to opposite groups hurl modified crackers at each other while riding on bikes. We are intensifying the raids into abandoned areas and houses, especially the areas bordering Kannur,” said Mr Prateesh.
The bomb squad as well as the dog squad are involved in the raid in areas infamous for bomb-making. The bomb testing also has become common in the area during night, say locals.
In Mudavanthery, a youngster, Samad, was allegedly injured while making bomb last week. In 2011, five Muslim Youth League workers were killed while making bombs in Narikkatteri. The Rural SP said that though party workers were involved sometimes, the blast was region-specific.
