Kalamassery blasts: Martin reiterates he doesn't want lawyer, police get 10-day custody of him

Kochi: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions court granted the police custody request of the Kalamassery blast accused, Dominic Martin till November 15. This is in response to the police’s request that there needs to be further probe into whether there are others involved in planning the blasts. Martin reportedly repeated that he doesn't require an advocate and would like to represent himself in court. 

Apart from the involvement of others, the police will also probe the financial source that helped Dominic Martin create the explosives and where he received such training. 

On November 3, three witnesses recognised the accused at the identification parade held at the Kakkanad sub-jail. The witnesses testified the fact that they had seen Dominic Martin  at the Zamra convention centre on the day of the blasts.

The parade was held at a specially arranged facility at the prison on Friday noon, in the presence of the magistrate. Martin was identified by the witnesses from a group of 12 ‘suspects’ who were lined up inside a hall. 

The police team probing the serial blasts at Kalamassery suspect that Martin, the sole accused, had conceived the plan during his time abroad. As per the latest report, the probe team is also investigating whether he received help when he was in Dubai. 

Martin told police that he made the IEDs used in the blast at his flat in Athani, near Aluva. The police also retrieved wires, batteries and an empty plastic bottle used to store petrol from his apartment. However, police are not sure that Martin is the lone culprit and suspect that he might have received help from outside parties. According to Martin, he watched videos on the internet to make IEDs. 

Meanwhile, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, on Sunday resumed physical prayer meetings after holding online gatherings following the shocking incident that claimed the lives of three persons and injured over 50 others.
The religious group decided to return to physical prayer meetings to remove any fear from its members' minds following the blasts.