Kalamassery blasts: Police seek custody of Dominic Martin, decision likely tomorrow

Kochi: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions court on Monday is likely to consider the police's demand seeking the custody of Kalamassery blast accused Dominic Martin. Police maintain that there needs to be further probe into whether there are others involved in planning the blasts. 

It has been a week since the blasts at the Jehovah's Witnesses convention took place. Police on the other day registered 54 cases for spreading communally instigative content through social media in the aftermath of the blasts.

On Friday, 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 suspects that Dominic 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.