Pen drive seized from Kerala blast site had photos of PM Narendra Modi, union ministers

Malappuram/Thiruvananthapuram: As the probe into the low-intensity IED blast near a court complex at the civil station here began, police today said a pen drive seized from the site had information as well as photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, some Union ministers and BJP leaders.

It also revealed that the group had planned more of such attacks in the country, they added.

"Information stored in the pen drive has revealed that similar blasts were to be carried out at other places. There is nothing alarming but there are indications of some places (which could be targeted)," Thrissur Range IGP MR Ajit Kumar, one of the investigating officers, told reporters after visiting the site of the blast.

"Some pamphlets have been recovered. There was a map of India and they had written certain things in connection with the recent developments in the country," he said.

Police sources said the pen drive also contained photos of the prime minister, some Union ministers and BJP leaders.

DSP VT Balan, another investigating officer, said an NIA team had visited the blast site and had later held discussions with the police team.

The matter also figured in the Assembly today with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stating that those behind the blast wanted to ruin the state's "peaceful" atmosphere and only a "comprehensive probe" could unearth the reasons behind it.

The state government too has formed a special team to probe the incident, the second in Kerala this year after a similar blast at Kollam Collectorate in June.

Pamphlets recovered from the site stated that the murder of Mohammad Akhlaq, who was lynched by a mob at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh for consuming beef, would be avenged.

Pamphlets and a photo of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden were also recovered from the spot.

"As per the evidence we have got so far, the same group which had carried out blasts at court complexes in Chittoor, Mysuru and Kollam, was behind yesterday's blast," Ajit Kumar said.

Refusing to divulge further details, he said investigations were on.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), state police and police forces from other states are also involved in the investigations.

A small cardboard box with 'The Base Movement' written on top was also recovered by the police from the blast site.

The blast had occurred in a car hired by the Homeo District Medical officer, which was parked along with other vehicles near the court.