Kochi: Dominic Martin, the prime accused in last week’s Kalamassery blast, has claimed to have carried out the attack to “draw the world’s attention” to the activities of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a Christian denomination, sources in Kerala Police have told ThePrint.
“He is remorseless and shows no repentance. In fact, he says that he carried out the attack so that he could spread the message to the world about the activities being carried out by the sect,” a police officer said.
Martin, who was produced in Ernakulam’s district sessions court Tuesday evening, argued the case himself — as he wanted to put across his views in his own voice.
According to police sources privy to the investigation, he appeared shaken only when he was informed that the blast had killed a 12-year-old.
“He remained calm, composed and confident through his questioning, but when he was told about the death of a 12-year-old, he seemed shocked,” the source said.
Another police source said although Martin did not accept that it was an atrocious act, he continued to say he “committed it to draw the world’s attention to the acts of Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
Three explosions took place Sunday morning at the Zamra Convention Center, where around 2,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses had assembled for a three-day convention. The blast killed three and injured over 50.
Eyewitnesses described the explosions as having come from “something that looked like a tiffin-box bag” under plastic chairs.
Martin then posted a video on Facebook confessing to the crime from a hotel room in Thrissur, before surrendering to police Sunday. His arrest was recorded by police Monday, and he reportedly provided self-incriminating evidence that the senior police officer quoted above said establishes his complicity, and proves he was “instrumental” in the crime.
Investigators suspect Martin, who was reportedly a part of the group years ago, spent Rs 3,000 to make the bombs detonated Sunday, assembling them at home after doing some research on the internet.
‘Quiet, unassuming’
Described by neighbours as a quiet and unassuming person, Martin was working as a civic foreman in Dubai before he returned to Kochi two months ago. He previously worked as a spoken-English teacher in Kochi when he lost his job in the pandemic. Before that, he worked in the Gulf between 1991 and 2000.
He and his family were living in a rented home in Thammanam, Kochi.
During questioning, it is learnt, Martin told the police that he owns a two-storey home in Athani, which is around 5 km away from the Cochin International Airport in Aluva. It is here that he is suspected to have assembled the improvised explosive device.
He also led the police to the building in Athani during evidence collection Tuesday, police said.
Dominic Martin has been remanded in judicial custody until 29 November.
This report has been updated to remove the word “seditious” from the police officer’s quote, as used to describe Martin’s opinion about the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ activities. While Martin has said he finds the group’s ideology “anti-national”, the word seditious hasn’t been used. The error is regretted.
Also Read: Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian group whose prayer meeting was bombed in Kerala