Kannur: A man died and another one was injured in a bomb blast at Muliyathodu near Panoor here in the wee hours of Friday.
Kaivelikkal native Sherin (26), a local CPM worker succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode.
They were first admitted to a private hospital in Kannur but were later shifted to Kozhikode for emergency treatment. The health condition of Vineesh (24), the other CPM activist hurt in the blast, remains critical, hospital sources said.
It is suspected that the accident happened when they were making a bomb on the terrace of a house. They were rushed to the nearby private hospital here soon after the accident.
Meanwhile, Manorama News reported that the duo was making the bombs in an under-construction house. The house owner told the channel that he was unaware of the activities.
Meanwhile, the incident has taken a political colour with the Congress accusing the CPM of trying to sabotage the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "Police did not act even after they were alerted about the bomb-making unit at the house. It makes sense, as the bombs were made with the knowledge of the senior CPM leaders. This blast proves that the CPM is trying to sabotage the elections,” said Kannur DCC president Martin George. “Those injured belong to the CPM and their photos with the LDF's Vadakara candidate K K Shailaja are circulating on social media platforms,” he added.
Senior BJP leader and the party's Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar claimed that CPM was taking refuge in terror as it is losing support among the people. "Both the LDF and UDF are taking the help of terror outfits, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will approach the Election Commission to take appropriate measures and more vigilance," Javadekar said in a statement.
However, the CPM denied the allegations and said the victim and injured were not connected with the party. “They are not CPM activists. The party leadership have already clarified that they were sidelined from any party activity,” said CPM state secretary M V Govindan.
In the morning, police blocked George and Congress party workers from visiting the accident spot. The Congress party alleged that police were trying to tamper with the evidence.
