Kerala serial blasts highlights: 20-member team to oversee Kerala blasts probe, says CM Vijayan

Kerala CM Vijayan slammed what he called "poisonous remarks" made by a union minister, saying that proper respect must be paid to the investigating agencies.
Wihout naming which minister he was referring to, he said, "Those who’re poisonous, will keep spitting poison. One of the Union Ministers made a statement that I am doing appeasement politics and protesting against Israel. He is a minister and should give some respect to the investigating agencies. The probe is underway."

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday said that 41 people have been hospitalized following serial blasts in Kerala's Ernakulam district. "Currently, 41 people are hospitalised, 27 people admitted in Ernakulam Medical College. 4 people discharged. 2 people have died, and 5 are critical," he said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that a 20-member police team will oversee the investigation of the Kerala blasts case. "It is a very unfortunate incident. A 20-member team will investigate the explosion. The investigation charge will be for a team under ADGP Law and Order," he said. 

An FIR was registered in the Kerala serial blasts under IPC sections 302 and 307 and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act  (UAPA) has been invoked against unknown persons in the case so far.

One more woman who suffered 90 per cent burns in blasts at Christian prayer meeting in Kochi died: State Health Minister. Toll now 2

A man, self-identified as Martin Dominic, has claimed the responsibility of placing a bomb at a convention centre in South India's Kerala that claimed one life and left 36 others injured. The incident occurred due to an improvised explosive device (IED), according to Kerala state's Director-General of Police. 

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A man from Kochi surrendered before the police in Thrissur claiming responsibility for the serial blasts at prayer meeting, local media reported.

The man, identified as Dominic Martin, claimed that he had set the bomb at the Zamra convention centre where a prayer meeting by Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian group, was being held on Sunday morning, reported Manorama News. The police have taken the man into custody for detailed questioning.

Uttar Pradesh SDG Law and Order Prashant Kumar orders all the districts to remain alert post blast in Kochi

"After the blasts in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh SDG Law and Order Prashant Kumar has ordered all the districts to remain alert. All the security agencies were also alerted… Orders have been given to keep special surveillance in several districts including Kanpur, Meerut, Varanasi, Aligarh, Lucknow, Hapur, Baghpat, Bareilly, Rampur, Agra," ANI quoted UP SDG as saying.

52 people have been admitted at various hospitals, Kerala Health Minister Veena George says.

 "52 people admitted to different hospitals…30 people are admitted here, out of which 18 are in ICU and 6 are critically injured, among those 6, one is a 12-year-old child. The rest of the injured are in other private hospitals…the dead person has not been identified yet"

Police in Delhi and Mumbai states issued a high alert, calling on the forces to ramp up security arrangements in the crowded areas in the wake of the Kerala serial blast

“Delhi Police is on high alert after the blast in the convention centre, in Kalamassery, Kerala and Special vigil is being kept in crowded places. The Special Cell is in constant touch with the intelligence agencies and any input will not be taken lightly. Security arrangements are being made at the crowded place,” news agency ANI quoted Delhi Police as saying.

Similarly, the Mumbai Police issued a high alert in view of the explosions in Kerala, as well as the upcoming festive season and cricket matches, NDTV reported. Security has also been increased around Chabad House, a Jewish centre in the city, the police reportedly said..

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan following a blast at a convention centre of a Christian group in Kochi, sources told PTI news agency.

Teams of the anti-terror force National Security Guard (NSG) and anti-terror probe agency National Investigation Agency (NIA) are being sent to Kerala following a directive of the home minister to assist the state government.

The blast at a convention centre in Kerala on Sunday that claimed one life and injured 36 others was caused due to an improvised explosive device (IED), state DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb said.

The State Police chief told reporters here that according to the preliminary probe the blast occurred due to an IED. "We are examining it," he said.

"This morning at 9.40 am approximately, there was an explosion in Zamrah International Convention Centre in Kalamassery in which one person died and 36 people are undergoing treatment as per our information," the DGP said.

However, there were conflicting reports about the number of blasts as state Ministers V N Vasavan and Antony Raju said there were two blasts, while Congress MP from Ernakulam, Hibi Eden, said there were multiple blasts according to one of his friends who attended the convention

The deceased in the serial blasts has been identied. She was a woman named Libina.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called an all-party meeting tomorrow at 10 AM, following this blast in Kalamassery. The all-party meeting will be held at his conference hall in Thiruvananthapuram.