Kerala’s bomb culture sees explosive growth

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When a police team rushed to the site of an explosion at Narikkatteri near Nadapuram on February 26, it was astonished to find a huge amount of raw material for bomb making.

Besides 25 steel bombs, there were huge quantities of gunpowder, pebbles and iron nails sufficient to make around 100 country bombs.

Five Indian Union Muslim League workers making the bombs were killed in the blast.

The site of the accidental explosion at Varikkoli in Nadapuram in which CPM workers were seriously injured also offered a similar spectacle.

There have been around 30 big and small accidental explosions in North Kerala in the past one year alone. Many were killed or maimed. But that has not deterred bomb-makers.

All parties and communal outfits have experts who make country bombs widely used in political clashes in North Kerala.

Bombs are mainly used to scare away passers-by while carrying out an “action.” Assailants also use explosions as a cover to escape. There have also been a few instances of bombs directly hitting the people.

Ammu Amma, 70, and 22-year-old Shihab died after they were hit by bombs at Chavassery in Kannur.
Country bombs are actually an improved version of throw-down firecrackers.

The power of these bombs is enhanced by adding more gunpowder. Iron nails, pebbles and glass pieces act as missiles after an explosion.

The most favourite is the steel bomb, but other varieties, such as pipe and ice cream bombs, are also used.

Police do conduct raids after every incident, but they’ve thus far failed to contain the menace deep rooted in North Kerala.

Types of bombs

COUNTRY BOMB:

It is a prototype of all bombs used in North Kerala. Gunpowder, nails, iron balls or pebbles are wrapped in a paper and kept in place with jute threads. It is a throw-down variety and
explosion is caused by friction.

STEEL BOMB

The same mixture is filled in a small steel canister usually used for distributing prasadam at
temples. It is more deadly because splinters of the steel canister act as missiles.

ICECREAM BOMB

It is a fancy item. Explosive material is filled in a plastic ice cream container. It can be thrown or detonated using a safety fuse.

PIPE BOMB

These bombs can destroy even buildings. Explosive material is stuffed in pieces of PVC pipes. Both ends are tightly covered and a safety fuse attached at the top.

FLOWERPOT BOMB

It is a variety developed by the Indian Mujahideen group in Kerala led by Thadiyantavide Nazeer.

Ammonium nitrate mixed with diesel is the explosive material used in these bombs. The mixture is filled in a flowerpot-shaped concrete block. Such bombs were used for the Bangalore blasts in 2008.

PEPSI BOMB

It is a variety that was used in the Marad killings of 2003. Explosive material is packed in tins of Pepsi and Mirinda. Their interior is lined with concrete and a small safety use is attached to it.