Poor CCTV visuals hit Kochi blast probe

Kochi: The SUV in which Sabarimala pilgrims from had Kasargod arrived at the Ayyappa Seva Sangham’s camp near Mavelipuram at Thrikkakara, where a bomb had gone off the other day, was not caught on any CCTV cameras, according to sources in the special investigation team.

It was earlier found that the pilgrims had given a fake registration number at the camp before having dinner from there which led to the suspicion that the bomb was thrown by the pilgrims themselves. One of the pilgrims was slightly injured in the blast, but he was not taken to any nearby hospital which also sparked suspicion.

Representatives of the Ayyappa Seva Sangham had earlier told the police that the vehicle had gone towards the north direction after the blast. But while checking the CCTV footages at the signal junction at Kalamassery, the SIT found that the vehicle had not passed by the place after the blast.

“We checked the CCTV footage at the nearby junction, Kalamassery and Paliyekkara toll too. But there was no clue about the vehicle. So we could not confirm the original registration number of the SUV. We are also checking if the vehicle took any other routes.

The footages at all the CCTVs around the area need to be examined to confirm our suspicion,” said a top source in the SIT.

According to police sources, they suspect it was an attempt to upset the religious harmony around this area. The bomb was made by inserting a large firecracker inside a steel mug with a wick attached to it. The bomb was thrown at the back yard of the Ayyappa Seva Sangham camp at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday last.