Kerala: NIA officers, ATS arrive after explosives found in Pathanapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The explosives found in the forest area at Padam near Pathanapuram have piqued the interest of National Investigation Agency (NIA). On Tuesday NIA officers visited the spot as part of an enquiry but they are yet to take formal action and the probe is still being conducted by the state police. The officers of anti-terrorism squad (ATS) of the state police too visited the spot.
NIA has shown interest in the case owing to suspected terror links in this case. Three months ago, a search was conducted here based on an intelligence communique received from Tamil Nadu Police’s Q branch that people with terror links might be holed up in the forest here. They had sent this message based on information extracted from an extremist from Tamil Nadu, who was caught in Uttar Pradesh. Following this, forest department had also tightened vigil in this region.
On Tuesday, one more gelatine stick was found around 35 metres away from the spot where explosives were found on Monday. On Monday morning, explosives were found by forest department officers at a cashew farm on forest land. As many as two gelatin sticks, six batteries, detonators and electrical wires were found from the spot.
Tuesday's search operations were led by Range DIG (Thiruvananthapuram) K Sanjay Kumar Gurudin. Sniffer dogs were brought to comb the region inside a 2km radius around the spot along with members of the bomb detection and disposal squad.
Speaking to TOI, DIG Gurudin said that the explosives appeared not more than a few weeks old. “'This area is part of a plantation that is frequented by workers. If the explosives were abandoned here several months ago the workers would have found it much earlier,” he said.
It is also learned that the investigation of the case may be handed over to ATS. However, Gurudin said that the decision in this regard has to be taken by the state police chief and he is yet to take such a call.