Koyilandy police on Sunday recorded the arrest of Joshy Ram, 23, son of Jayaraman, hailing from Dharamadam near Thalassery, in connection with the explosion occurred at a two-storey building at Maramuttam Street near Koyilandy on Saturday morning. Joshy Ram, who is an auto-driver and a resident of the house, was taken into custody on Saturday itself.
According to police, the house belonged to Valiyaveettil Kelu of Koyilandy and it has been rented out to Jayaraman and family including his wife and three sons. Joshy Ram was arrested on charges under Sections 3 and 5 of Explosive Substances Act.
Joshy Ram told police that he has a craze for firecrackers and stored some quantity of explosives, which he obtained during ‘Vishu’. But the police are not ready to believe this version as he is an active worker of a political party and they are looking for more clues. Sources with the police said that they are waiting for the chemical analysis which is expected to be obtained within two or three days. Police added that they will also move a plea seeking extension of his police custody for further interrogation. Joshy Ram was produced before Koyilandy Judicial First Class Magistrate and later remanded to judicial custody.
The house was partially destroyed and Jayaraman’s wife Preetha, 50, suffered serious injuries following the incident, which occurred at around 9.30 am on Saturday.
Nobody was inside the house at the time of explosion except Preetha who suffered serious burn injuries. She was later admitted to Koyilandy Taluk Hospital. The kitchen and two adjacent rooms of the house were completely destroyed in the explosion.