Norway issues warrant for India-born Rinson Jose, linked to Lebanon device blasts

New Delhi: The Norwegian police have issued an international search warrant for Rinson Jose, a Malayali accused of involvement in a pager blast in Lebanon. Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos) confirmed that a yellow notice has been issued and an investigation is underway. The warrant reportedly stems from information provided by the company where Rinson was employed, regarding his sudden disappearance.

On the night of the 17th, a pager explosion occurred in Lebanon while Rinson, a Norwegian citizen originally from Mananthavadi, had traveled to the United States from Oslo, Norway. He arrived in Boston for what he described as a prearranged trip. However, shortly after his arrival, his employer in Norway alerted the authorities about his disappearance, prompting the issuance of the search warrant.

Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated across Lebanon last week, killing at least 39 people and wounding nearly 3,000 in an attack widely blamed on Israel, which has refused to comment.

It has been alleged that Norta Global, a Bulgarian company owned by Rinson, was involved in supplying pagers containing explosives to Hezbollah. In response, the Bulgarian State Agency for National Security issued a press release stating that the company had not engaged in any illegal activities. Nonetheless, Norway is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and is proceeding with necessary measures.

Norta Global, founded in April 2022 by Rinson Jose, last year declared revenue of 650,000 euros ($725,000) for consulting activities outside the European Union.

The company told the Verdens Gang newspaper last week that he has been on an overseas work trip since September 17 and that they had not been able to reach him.

The pagers and walkie-talkies exploded as their users were shopping in supermarkets, walking on streets and attending funerals, plunging the country into panic.

The United Nations said Friday that the detonation of the hand-held communication devices could constitute a war crime.

The war in Gaza began with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity.  

Of the 251 hostages seized by militants, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,534 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable.  | With inputs from AFP