Special team to probe Malappuram blast; NIA to take stock

Though the explosion at the Malappuram Collectorate on Tuesday was a low-intensity blast, the government has taken it very seriously following the suspected terror links. The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a special investigation team to probe the blast while a team of the National Investigation Agency also reached Malappuram to take stock of the situation.  

No one was injured in the explosion triggered using a timer or remote control. The explosive material had been placed in a pressure cooker, and such blasts are identical with explosions perpetrated by the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen.  The police recovered a cardboard box titled 'the Base Movement,' which is suspected to be a morphed name of Indian Al-Queda. The box had a letter and a pen drive. 

Also read: Blast at Malappuram Collectorate; Indian Al-Queda's letter found

The letter claimed that the blast was in revenge for the murder of Muhammed Akhlaq, who was mob- lynched on September 28 last year for keeping beef in his home at Dadri in UP.

Responding to an adjournment motion in Kerala Assembly on Wednesday, CM Vijayan said that a special team led by Narcotic Cell DySP PT Balan would probe the blast case. The government will take such incidents very seriously, he added. 

The lone BJP MLA O Rajagopal walked out of the House alleging that the government did not take the incident seriously. The Left government and the United Democratic Front are taking a soft stand on these issues, he alleged. 

An NIA team led by DySP Abdul Khader reached Malappuram on Wednesday morning and inspected the spot. 

Meanwhile, the lack of security and surveillance systems in Malappuram District Collectorate premises are posing a big challenge for the investigating agencies. The Collectorate had no CCTV monitoring system.

• Malappuram blast
• Indian Mujahideen
• Indian Al-Queda
• Kollam Blast