Kochi blasts death toll climbs to 4 as 61-year-old woman succumbs to injuries

Out of 19 people undergoing treatment at various hospitals after sustaining injuries in the Kochi blasts, 11 are in ICUs.

kerala kochi convention centre blasts death toll jehovah's witnesses

People gather after an explosion that killed four and injured several others, at a convention centre in Kochi. (PTI file)

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The death toll in the October 26 IED blasts at the convention of the Christian group Jehovah’s Witnesses rose to four on Monday after another critically injured person succumbed to burns.

District officials in Ernakulam identified the fourth victim as Moly Joy, 61, who had sustained 80 per cent burns in the blasts at the convention centre at Kalamassery near Kochi.

Out of 19 people undergoing treatment at various hospitals, 11 are still in intensive care units.

Hours after the blasts on October 29, an estranged member of Jehovah’s Witnesses identified as Dominic Martin had surrendered before the police claiming responsibility for the crime.

Also read | ‘Saw a fireball near my sister’s seat’: Eyewitnesses recount Kerala blast horror

The police, after verifying his claims and examining circumstantial evidence, had recorded his arrest. Martin was arrested under Section 16 (1)A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), sections 302 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Explosives Act.

On Monday, the police will move an application at the Ernakulam district sessions court, seeking custody of the sole accused for further questioning. Last week, they had taken Martin to his flat near Aluva in Ernakulam, where he claimed to have made the IED device used in the blast.

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