Kerala: Pipe bomb in rail track planted for experimental blast

Kottayam:
Those who planted the pipe bomb near Railway track at Velloor near Kottayam were trying to conduct an experimental blast and subsequently trigger panic among people, sources close to police told Express.

Police suspect that the primary motive of the perpetrators was to spread panic rather than conducting blasts. The pipe bomb was unearthed adjacent to Railway track at Velloor near Kottayam on Thursday.

“The bomb was found one and half meter away from the railway track. If the perpetrators wanted to make a blast, they would have put it on the track itself. Besides, they did not set the connections properly.

Moreover, the explosives discovered could not have made much damage to trains” said C Rajagopal, superintendent of police.

Police do not rule out the possibility of a connection between the incident to the explosion occurred at Ernakulam district collectorate in July 2009, as both the incidents have several palpable similarities. However, only detailed chemical examinations can verify this possibility. “This is a very serious incident and we need a thorough investigation to bring out the truth. We suspect the role of subversive elements behind this incident. However, we can not say anything as of now, without getting the results of chemical analysis” says Rajagopal.

Meanwhile, some higher officials in the police told express that the incidents prima facie look similar since PVC pipes were used in both the cases.The team members who first investigated Ernakulam Collectorate blast had also visited the place.

“Right now we cannot say any connection with Collectorate blast case though both the incidents look similar. We can confirm it only after the Chemical examination result is known” said P Vickraman, DySP of National Investigation Agency (NIA) who paid visited to the site.

Kottayam police has sought the help of higher police officials in the state including ADGP Vincent M Paul.

Forensic experts from Kottayam and Ernakulam collected pivotal evidences from the site. Various other investigative agencies including Railway protection force and crime branch also visited the place.
Source http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pipe-bomb-in-kerala-rail-track-planted-for-experimental-blast/284998-62-126.html