The Hindu : Kerala News : Apprehensions allayed over seizure of explosives

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Sunday, May 28, 2006

Kerala

Kerala

Apprehensions allayed over seizure of explosives

The seizure of bombs and explosives in the district has created a fear psychosis in the minds of the people. But the police say the bombs would probably have been manufactured during the communal riots at Nadapuram five years ago, writes Biju Govind

Recovery of bombs and explosives in the district, especially in rural areas last week, has created panic among ordinary citizens. Many people believe that the culture of bomb making in rural belts will shatter the peace that has been painstakingly restored in communally sensitive areas of Nadapuram.

Fifteen country-made bombs were recovered from Kuttiyadi on Wednesday. The bombs, concealed in a bucket, were found buried at Oorath near the house of Vathukkal Paramathu Hameed. Workers found the bucket while repairing the compound fence.

In another case, eight powerful steel bombs were recovered from Kummangot under the Nadapuram police station limits last Saturday. Four country-made bombs were recovered from the region the previous week.

In the city, which has witnessed blasts at the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the mofussil bus stations and seizure of explosives from different areas including the strife-torn Marad, the police recovered a few gelignite sticks and three kg of gun powder in a carry bag found abandoned at the Arayadathupalam junction on Tuesday.

However, the police say most of the explosive materials found in these areas are of old stock, which could have been manufactured during the riots at Nadapuram five years ago.

Some of the country-made ones were in poor condition while the steel bombs recovered from Kummangot were found to be almost two years old.

Most of the political parties and fundamentalist outfits have their own men and methods to manufacture bombs. But the bomb making had come down considerably in recent times, the police said.

Kozhikode Rural Superintendent of Police C. Sharafudeen said that raids were being carried out periodically on suspected sites. "Obviously those who had manufactured and concealed bombs in safe custody earlier might now be trying to dispose them off by abandoning them in buckets on roadsides and other people's compounds," he said.

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