Dominic Martin walked into a police station at Thrissur and owned up to the crime, said the police, saying did it “because Jehovah Witness was on the wrong track”.

Martin claimed that he had planted the bomb which resulted in the death of a woman and left 40 people injured. Two persons have died while some are said to be in critical condition.

Martin lives in Kochi at a rented accommodation and returned from Dubai a month ago, having lived there for the last six years. He was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses. 

Meanwhile, ADGP of Kerala Police MR Ajith Kumar confirmed that Martin came on his own and surrendered before the police. 

“He claimed to be a member of this congregation and we have got evidence to what he has said so far,” Ajith Kumar said.

Meanwhile, the police recovered his mobile which includes visuals of his statements. 

His wife and daughter had no clue of Martin’s plans, and it was only after his name was flashed (in the news), they came to know what happened. 

According to sources, Martin left his home early on the morning of Oct 29 at around 5 a.m. 

His landlord said that a few days ago Martin brought a stove, while describing him as “by and large a quiet person”.  

The police have, meanwhile, learnt that for the last several weeks, Martin was trying to learn how to make explosives, and from where he sourced the materials. 

A person attached to the congregation said Martin has never been an active member but used to come ‘on and off’.

Jehovah Witnesses are a group of Christians who do not identify themselves as Protestants. 

The Jehovah Witness Convention is an annual gathering where large assemblies called Regional Conventions take place which are held for three days. 

The event had started on Oct 27 and it was supposed to end on Oct 29. 

Two killed in the blasts

One of the deceased has been identified as Kumari, a 53-year-old woman. She had suffered 90 per cent burn injuries.

Meanwhile, another who died earlier in the day is yet to be identified. 

According to officials, a high alert has been sounded in Kerala after the blasts. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed a team of NSG and NIA to rush to Kochi. 

The investigation into the multiple bomb blasts revealed that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) kept in a tiffin box was used to trigger the explosion. 

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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