On 29 October 2023, a series of improvised explosive device (IED) blasts took place during a Jehovah's Witnesses convention in Kalamassery, India. Two women and a child were killed and more than fifty other people were injured when the Christian denomination was holding the Sunday morning session of their annual regional convention in southern India's Kerala state. A man named Dominic Martin has surrendered at the Kodakara police station, confessing to being responsible for the blast. The cause of the blast is still under investigation.
Background
The Jehovah's Witnesses group claims to have approximately 8.5 million followers worldwide and around 60,000 in India, with a significant presence in Kerala known for door-to-door evangelism. In 1986, the Indian Supreme Court backed its followers, ruling that their children could not be compelled to sing the national anthem in schools. Supporters of the movement argued that singing the anthem would constitute "a form of idolatry and an act of unfaithfulness to their God Jehovah" due to their conscience.
Incident
On the morning of 29 October 2023, about 2500 members of Jehovah's Witnesses gathered at the Zamra International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Kalamassery, Kerala, South India. The blasts occurred at 9:40 AM and fire was reported in the building located 10 km northeast of Kochi city. Witnesses say that there were multiple explosions, and that the hall was filled with smoke and fire. People rushed out of the center in panic, and some were injured in the stampede. First victim was found charred to death in the middle of the hall. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, and several are in critical condition.
Victims
First reported fatality was of Leona Paulos, a 55-year-old women who was found charred to death at the blast spot. Few hours later, Kumari Pushpan, a resdient of Thodupuzha died in hospital. On the next day, a 12-year-old girl with 95% burns succumbed to her injuries. More than 50 others got burn injuries due to fire. 17 people had been admitted to different hospitals, 12 of whom were in intensive care with burns above 50-60%.
Suspect
Dominic Martin, a 57 year-old resident of Thammanam who claims to be a renegade member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, surrendered at a police station in Kodakara and confessed that he is behind the blast. Prior to surrendering, he posted a video on Facebook where he was seen saying that he resented the Witnesses’ “antinational” doctrines. Police were suspicious of Martin’s claim, and took him to custody for further questioning.
Confession
As per the suspect's own confession, he planned the blast when he was working in Dubai. Martin told the police that he used of petrol and high-impact firecrackers to make the bomb. Electronic components required for detonating the bomb was purchased from Ernakulam on the pretext of making remote control toys for children.
Investigation
Initially, it was speculated that some Islamist terrorist groups might be behind the blasts and the incident was falsely connected to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. However, further interrogation of Dominic Martin by police have revealed evidences that this was likely an insider attack. Preliminary investigation indicated that an IED placed inside a tiffin box might have caused the blasts.
Response
According to the Kerala Director General of Police Shaik Darvesh Saheb, preliminary investigation indicated that an improvised explosive device was utilized. The Kerala government put the state on high alert after the blasts. Police and security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas, and checks are being carried out at all entry and exit points to the state.
The National Security Guard, India’s national counter-terrorism unit, moved one of its bomb disposal units from New Delhi to Kerala in order to conduct an investigation and collected evidence from the blast site.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the blasts. The NIA is India's premier counter-terrorism agency, and it is investigating the possibility that the blasts were carried out by a terrorist group.
Shortly after the bombing occurred, false claims that it was linked to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war spread on social media.