Inquiry points to intelligence failure in Keezhara blast

A departmental inquiry by the police has found intelligence failure in the blast at Keezhara in Kannapuram, where a house collapsed and one person was killed following an explosion.

The intelligence wing did not receive any information on the large quantity of explosives stored at the house, according to police sources.

Investigators are now probing the nature of explosives in the possession of Anoop Malik, the prime accused in the blast case, his wider connections and whether other activities were carried out to cover up criminal acts and police charges.

There are six cases in the district against Anoop relating to illegal collection and manufacturing of firecrackers. The Police department is checking these details as part of the ongoing investigation. He will be taken from remand for detailed questioning.

In 2016, a similar explosion occurred at a rented house in Rajendran Nagar at Podikund. The house collapsed in the blast. Seventeen nearby residences were damaged. Anoop, his wife Rahila and two others were injured then. The losses in the blast was estimated unofficially at 10 crore, while the government estimated it at ₹4 crore.

Later on January 26, 2020, the Kannur Town police registered a case against him after discovering 230 kg of explosives and 30 explosive devices in an abandoned building near the Corporation crematorium at Chalakunnu.

Officials said the intelligence wing should have closely monitored Anoop since multiple cases had already been registered against him.

The house where the recent explosion took place is located on a hill about half a kilometre from Keezhara Kuloth. There are five houses nearby. Some local residents said that a motorbike and a scooter were regularly seen near the house, indicating that the gang could have been operating from the house, manufacturing and selling explosives on a large scale, without being caught by the police.

The accused, a gym trainer by profession, is said to have been involved in making fireworks illegally. He also supplied fireworks to temples during festivals. The police said that he did not take contracts for firework displays but delivered the required products to those winning the the contracts.

The police also found that Rahila’s brother, Mohammed Asham, who died in the Keezhara blast, was also involved in the production of explosive. Anoop, aslo known as Anoop Kumar, son of Mukundan of Veena Vihar, Chakkatupeedika, Chalad, started living with Rahila, a native of Pappinisseri, after leaving his first wife. After the 2016 blast, Anoop had shifted to Mele Chovva and later rented houses at various places.

The police sources have admitted that it is a major lapse that the intelligence wing of the police has failed to detect Anoop’s relocation to the Kannapuram house and his involvement in manufacturing and selling gunpowder.

Following the recent explosion, the police have launched extensive searches across the district for explosives.