Five workers of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) died in a powerful blast while they were secretly making country bombs at Aniyarukunnu in Narikkatteri, on the outskirts of the district, on Saturday night. Nine others were injured in the incident.
The deceased have been identified as Shabeer (19), son of Abdulla, Shabeer (25), son of Moosa, Riyaz (21), son of Mammu, Shameer (23), son of Hamza, and Rafeeq (29), son of Moidu.
The first three died on Saturday night while the other two died on Sunday morning. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals in Kozhikode. Among them, the condition of Ajinas is stated to be serious.
Local people who rushed to the scene after hearing the deafening sound of the explosion found the bodies lying in a pool of blood.
The makeshift shed where the bombs were being made was destroyed in the explosion. The police has recovered gunpowder and steel canisters used for making bombs from the site and also unearthed five “steel bombs”.
Around two kg of gunpowder, mixed with iron nails, pebbles and glass pieces, was also found hidden in a well near the site of incident.