By TCN News,
Kozhikode: The state Crime Branch will investigate the bomb blast in Kozhikode district that killed five and injured about seven. The blast took place at Nadapuram on Saturday night. The district Collector has clamped prohibitory orders in the area for seven days beginning from Sunday night. An all-party meeting was held in Kozhikode Collectorate today with a view to restore peace.
Those killed and injured are reportedly associated with the Muslim League, Muslim Youth League and the MSF. Those who lost lives are Narikkatteri Valiyapeedikayil Sabeer (21), Narikkatteri Karayath Shabeer (26), Puthooridathe Rafeeq (26), Chalil Riyas (28) and Cheriathayyil Sameer (24). Sabeer and Shabeer who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode died yesterday. Others had died Saturday itself. Those injured in the blast such as Poovullathil Shabeer (25), Poovullathil Ajnas (26) and Cheriyathayyil Faisal (26) are in a hospital in Kozhikode. The explosion took place when bombs were being made, said Kannur Range IG Sudesh Kumar, according to reports.
Meanwhile, Muslim League stat general secretary PK Kunhalikkutty said that the party was not involved in bomb-making. Political parties should seriously consider the tense situation prevailing in Nadapuram for a long time. The incident should be investigated and the criminals should be isolated. Nadapuram needs sincere efforts to maintain peace, he added.
The blast took place at an abandoned plot at Narikkatteri in Nadapuram about 10 pm on Saturday. Police have reportedly collected many things used for making bombs from the place.
The incidents leading to the present bomb blast took place last week when a Congress office was attacked and a Muslim League member was beaten up there, according to reports. In the complaint filed at the police station, the names of the alleged members of the DYFI who attacked the Congress office were given and this reportedly angered the DYFI still. Three persons including Congress leader KT Aamad were attacked on Thursday night. On Friday a group said to be of Muslim League held a march and destroyed a flag post of the CPI (M). This followed the widespread attack on houses in the night. About 17 bombs were thrown at 14 houses on Friday night. In the police raids that followed several bombs were collected. Bombs were thrown at houses on Saturday night also.
The CPI (M) accused that the bombs were being made to create problems in the Assembly election which is round the corner. Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said that the explosion at Nadapuram was the sign of the violence that the UDF would unleash in the state during the elections. Minister of Forests Binoy Viswom demanded an inclusive investigation into the incident covering the source of weapons and the financial source. Central Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said last day that the incidents at Nadapuram were taking place with the knowledge of the political leadership. Mr Ramachandran who is the MP of the place said that the problems can be solved only by a political solution taken by the state leaders of the parties.
Meanwhile, the SDPI accused that CPI (M) general secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was trying to protect the Muslim League in the Nadapuram bomb blast case, by naming the NDF also along with the Muslim League as responsible for the blast. Muslim League secretary ET Muhammed Basheer had spoken against those killed in the blast after Pinarayi’s statement. This is a result of the Kunhalikuutty-Pinarayi-mafia nexus, SDPI president Adv KP Muhammed Shareef reportedly said in a statement. The PFI said in its statement that the people of the locality would not be able to lead a normal life unless the CPI (M) left its ‘party village’ style and the Muslim League left its method of leaving its members uncontrolled. The organisation also demanded a wide-ranging investigation into the incident.
Solidarity state president P Mujeeb Rahman expressed shock in the deadly blasts at Nadapuram and demanded a comprehensive investigation. The Muslim Youth League had been in the front to allege other Muslim organizations of terrorism and now its members have died while making weapons. He asked whether it did not fall in the category of terrorism. Solidarity Kozhikode district president Razaq Paleri said that the organisation would lead a strong agitation of the local people if the political parties did not put an end to the bomb politics.
Nadapuram had paid the price of deadly and violent political battles way back in 1970s, 1980s and early 2001. Several people were killed and property worth crores was destroyed in the different clashes between rival political parties. Hundreds of youth had to live between jails and cases. After the deadly clashes of 2001, the people of Nadapuram decided to put an end to the political violence. The people held a peace rally on August 15, 2002 and took the pledge for peace. The Nadapuram Panchayat took firm steps forward in development and was even awarded the state governemnt’s Swaraj Trophy for the best Panchayat.
However, problems again began to turn violent recently. There was a blast in the CPI (M) centre in the village last month in which six people were injured. Two among them are reportedly still under a critical condition.