1 injured as IED explodes in Kerala court complex

"The IED with electronic circuit is of low intensity. It is not damaging, but the presence of electronic circuit is very significant," IG Manoj Abraham said.

Police suspect that an explosive was deliberately placed under a jeep that was not in use for a long time, at the collectorate-cum-district courts complex in Kollam, to create a scare. Photo: Suresh Kumar

A 61-year-old man was injured when a low-intensity Improvised Explosive Device kept under an unused jeep exploded at the collectorate-cum-district courts complex in Kollam on Wednesday.

Sabu, hailing from nearby Kundara, was just coming out of the Munsif Court room and was in the building veranda when a few particles of the explosion hit him, police said.

“It is a low intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED),” Thiruvananthapuram IG Manoj Abraham said.

“The IED with electronic circuit is of low intensity. It is not damaging, but the presence of electronic circuit is very significant,” IG Manoj Abraham said. Further investigation into the incident was on, he said. “We are looking into all angles... whether any group is involved in it or not”, he said.

A holiday was declared for the court in the wake of the blast.

Mr. Sabu, who had come to the court in connection with a case, later told reporters that he heard a loud sound and some particles struck his eyes. “I was just coming out of the Munsif Court room when I heard the sound. It started bleeding and my shirt was soaked with blood,” he said.

The IED was planted beneath the parked vehicle, which was partially damaged under the impact of the blast, police said. Police suspect that explosive was deliberately placed under the State labour department’s jeep, which was not in use for a long time, to create a scare.

The explosion caused a scare among the litigant and others who gathered at the spot. Police also recovered gelatin sticks and 17 batteries and fuse materials from the jeep.