Kozhikode Twin Blasts, ? Was A trial for present Blasts

It was on March 3, 2006 that two low intensity explosions occurred at the KSRTC busstand and moffussil busstand within 15 minutes.

The similarities between the Kozhikode blasts and Bangalore blasts are ominously close: both of them were with timer devices, both happened on Fridays and the intention was not to cause harm, but to create panic among the public.

But it would be premature to draw any conclusion from these similarities. But one question remains unanswered: why the blast without any apparent provocation.

The suspicion emerged shortly after the explosion was that it was only a ‘test’, a trial for a larger explosion in future.

There are many factors that lead to such a conclusion. Those who planned the blasts could have added some more explosives that could have left the busstands to ashes if the intention was to cause harm.

Secondly, there was a phone call to the Collectorate informing that bombs were planted at the bus stands.

The local police that investigated the blasts interrogated around 200 persons including the owner of the public call booth from where the call was made. They also prepared the sketch of the person who made a suspicious phone call over mobile and left the site after blasts.

An obscure organisation called Al-Kanoun sent letters to media claiming responsibility for the blasts. But on enquiry it was found that the outfit was a fictitious one.

The case was later transferred to the Special Investigation Group (III) of the Crime Branch. They also tried their best to unravel the mystery.

An activist of an extremist organisation was zeroed in on as his appearance was similar to that of the figure in the sketch. The person, who had gone to the Gulf after the explosions, was brought back and quizzed, but failed to get any lead.