Explosives seized in Palakkad's Kallekkad linked to blast at Moothanthara school?

Palakkad: The police team investigating the recovery of explosives from a house in Kallekkad have received information suggesting that two among the accused in the case had visited the area near Moothanthara School a day before an explosion occurred there.

Authorities are looking into the alleged presence of the house owner, Suresh Kumar (40), and Noushad (35) of Kallekkad, another accused in the case, in the vicinity. If sufficient evidence is found, the duo could be formally charged in connection with the school blast. A third person, Fazil (25), a native of Palakkad, too has been arrested in the case.

The blast, which took place at the RSS-controlled Vyasa Vidyapeedom School in Moothanthara on August 20 left a student and a woman injured when an explosive material on the school premises detonated. During subsequent inspections, more explosives were discovered near the school.

Amid allegations that the investigation was being delayed without any arrests, police have now identified possible links between the explosives recovered from Kallekkad and the school blast. The accused are currently under remand and police are expected to take them into custody soon.

On Wednesday last, the police recovered 24 detonators, 12 panni padakkam (pig crackers), grains reportedly used in making explosives and plastic covers from the Kallekkad location. Suresh Kumar told the police that he used explosives for rock blasting and well digging and that the materials recovered were part of his work.