“Disturbing that incidents bordering on terror acts happening in Kerala”: MoS Muraleedharan on Kalamassery blast

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India]: Voicing concern after twin explosions at a prayer hall in Kerala left one person dead and several injured, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and BJP leader, V Muraleedharan, on Sunday said it was disturbing to note that his home state was turning a hotbed of incidents that could be dubbed terrorist acts.

Speaking to media from Thiruvananthapuram in the wake of blasts on Sunday, the MoS said, “I was shocked to learn of the bomb blasts at a convention centre during a prayer meeting of the Christian community.

It is disturbing to note that Kerala is becoming a hotbed of incidents bordering on terrorist acts. The Home Minister (Amit Shah) has already spoken to the Kerala chief minister. I also had a telephonic conversation with the CM.”

The Union Minister added that the central agencies are investigating the incident and further action will follow on the basis of findings from the preliminary inquiry.

“The central agencies have already launched an investigation into the incident. I am sure they will go to the bottom of this incident and find out who were responsible. They will also be able to throw light on the motivations behind the incident. We (Centre) will wait for the details of the investigations to come out before deciding on the next steps,” Muraleedharan said.

“I would like to appeal to the state government to provide all sorts of medical assistance to the injured,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Anil Antony launched a scathing attack on the Kerala government, alleging that it was in “hand-in-glove” with terrorist organisations. He added that his party condemned the incident in the strongest terms.

Speaking to media from Mizoram, Anil Antony said, “The last few years in Kerala, under the Left rule, have been witness to a rise of a lot of fundamentalist outfits. The state is currently under the rule of the Communist Party, and, the Congress and the Muslim League, two prominent Opposition parties in the state, partner the ruling party here in the INDI-alliance.”

“Yesterday, in Kerala, a terrorist leader (former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal) addressed a massive crowd virtually. The BJP strongly condemns all such activities. In the last few months, the NIA has carried out several investigations in Kerala. The agency has to step in once again. This (LDF) government is in hand-in-glove with these terrorist organisations,” he added.

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Alphons KJ alleged that Kerala was in the grip of fundamentalist forces and terror sympathisers, saying that he had been warning of such incidents for a long time.

“There were multiple blasts, from what I gathered. The situation is extremely critical. I have been warning for a long time that in Kerala, both the left and right (LDF and Congress-led UDF) support terrorism. This has been happening for a very long time. Today Kerala is in the grip of terrorism. This has to stop,” he told media in Delhi.

Also speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, the Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly and state Congress president, VD Satheesan, said, “I was told that there were two blasts and there was a fire.

Initially, there was a major blast while the second one was a minor one. One woman died and 25 others were injured. The injured are currently in hospital. Six of the injured persons are in the ICU. Around 2,000 people were present in the prayer hall when the incident took place.”

Meanwhile, the state DGP on Sunday confirmed that there were two explosions adding that the the preliminary investigation suggested the use of IEDs to trigger blasts.

The DGP informed 36 injured persons were undergoing treatment in various hospitals in the district, adding that a thorough investigation into the incident is underway.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police, earlier on Sunday, informed that a special surveillance was being maintained in crowded places after the blast in Kalamassery.

The Special Cell is in constant touch with the intelligence agencies and any input will be looked into. Special security arrangements are being made at all crowded places, Delhi Police said in a statement.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwar said, “I have instructed the IG and police commissioner to monitor the border areas after the explosions in Kerala.”

Kalamassery CI Vibin Das said earlier first explosion took place around 9 am.

Sunday was the last day of the three-day meeting, which started on October 27.

According to officials, more than 2,000 people were attending the prayer meeting when the blasts took place.