What Caused the Suspected Crude Bomb Blast That Killed One in Kerala’s Kannur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One person was killed and several others injured due to the explosion.
- The incident highlights the ongoing issue of illegal bomb-making in the region.
- The police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the blast.
- Eyewitness accounts describe significant damage to surrounding homes.
- This incident continues a troubling trend of violence linked to political tensions in Kannur.
Kannur (Kerala), Aug 30 (NationPress) A tragic explosion at a rented home in Kannapuram has resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to several others, as confirmed by police reports. The blast, believed to be linked to a crude bomb, was of such intensity that it dismembered the victim, with body parts scattered across the site.
Witnesses described the scene, noting that the house was completely devastated, with surrounding residences also sustaining damage from the force of the explosion.
Authorities suspect that the incident may have occurred during the illicit production of a crude bomb. The property owner, identified as Keezhara Govindan, had rented the residence to two individuals operating a spare parts business in Payyannur, approximately 40 kilometers from Kannur.
The identities of the deceased and the injured are yet to be confirmed, and the total number of individuals present in the home at the time of the explosion remains unknown.
The blast's impact damaged nearby homes, cracking walls and dislodging doors. Forensic teams and bomb disposal units are currently investigating the scene to uncover details and collect evidence.
This incident has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of illegal explosive manufacture in the Kannur district.
The area has a troubling history of similar incidents, frequently intertwined with political motives. In April 2024, a member of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist lost their life in a comparable crude bomb explosion in Panur while allegedly assembling explosives.
Earlier that same year, a 90-year-old man tragically died in Thalassery after inadvertently handling a steel bomb found on an abandoned property. Such incidents often lead to casualties, affecting children and innocent bystanders, and have sparked ongoing political tensions and accusations between rival factions in the region.