Kerala - Kozhikode   

Twin blasts: special squad begins inquiry

Staff Reporter

Team visits bus stations, statements collected from victim

Kozhikode : Special squad of the Criminal Investigation Department has begun investigation into the twin blasts at the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the mofussil bus station in the heart of the city three months ago.

CID-SIG Superintendent of Police Jose George and Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Rajan and other officials made a visit to these bus stations in the morning. Statements were also collected from the constable of the Kasaba police station who was injured in the explosion. The second injured, a porter, would be examined in a couple of days, Mr. Rajan said.

The first explosion occurred at the KSRTC bus station around 12.45 p.m. and the second one at 1.10 p.m. on March 3. Timer devices had been used for the blasts, according to forensic experts. Initially the police stations at Nadakavu and Kasaba investigated the cases separately. Both these cases were then handed over to special officer T.F. Xavier, Assistant Commissioner of Police of the District Crime Record Bureau. No one had been arrested in connection with the cases although the police had questioned over 300 persons, including public call office operators, leaders of political parties and organisations.

No clues had been obtained about the culprits behind these operations. The blasts had occurred after the District Collectorate and an eveninger received anonymous calls warning of explosions at these bus stations.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) of the Centre and the Special Branch of the State Police had given reports that these incidents were aimed at testing the efficiency of the district administration in dealing with such a situation. Preliminary investigation revealed that extremist outfits based in North Kerala had planned the incidents to create panic among the people before the Assembly elections.

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