Kerala Blast Accused Dominic Martin Arrested After Detailed Questioning, UAPA Invoked: Police
He has been charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), Explosive Substances Act, and Murder.
New Delhi: Dominic Martin, the prime accused in the multiple blasts that happened at a convention centre in the Kalamassery area of Kerala’s Ernakulam, was arrested on Monday evening, a senior police official said.
He has been charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), Explosive Substances Act, and Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (Punishment for murder).
The police said the accused will be produced before the court on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters, Police Commissioner A Akbar said, "Dominic Martin's arrest was recorded at 7 pm. He will be produced in court within the stipulated time. He has been charged under sections of Explosive Substances Act and UAPA. As of now, we are convinced that this is a single man's act. But we are looking into more details."
Kochi's Kalamassery Blast | Police Commissioner A Akbar says, "Dominic Martin's arrest was recorded at 7 pm. He will be produced in court within the stipulated time. He has been charged under sections of Explosive Substances Act and UAPA. As of now, we are convinced that this is… pic.twitter.com/R0kNBX2kgg
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2023
Three people died and over 50 were injured in the series of explosions at the Zamra International Convention Centre in Kalamassery where over 2,000 followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian sect, had gathered for a prayer meeting on Sunday.
Hours after the serial blast, Dominic Martin surrendered before the police claiming responsibility for the explosion.
Before surrendering, Martin appeared on Facebook Live, saying he carried out the blasts as the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses were "seditious" and its ideology was dangerous for the country, reported PTI.
"...therefore its presence had to be ended in the state. I was trying my best to tell those behind this congregation and the ideology that it was totally wrong and against the country," Martin said in the video.
"I tried to tell those concerned that corrections should be made but all my attempts failed. So I did this...I take up the responsibility," he added.
While Martin claimed to be a member of Jehovah's Witnesses himself, a member of the Christian sect said Martin was not an active member but used to come "on and off" at their congregations, PTI reported.
By Sunday evening, a 21-member special investigation team (SIT) of the Kerala Police, headed by ADGP Ajith Kumar, was set up to probe the case.
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