In Kerala violence could escalate ahead of polls, says Intelligence Bureau

Kerala, Apr 29: With things hotting up ahead of the Kerala assembly elections, an intelligence bureau report of that state has warned about escalation in violence.

Kerala has had a bloody history ahead of the elections and almost all political parties indulge in violent means to outdo their opponents.

Threats of fights and bombings have been indicated in the intelligence report of the state. Adding to the problem is the discovery of several units across the state where bombs are being prepared.

These bombs are hurled at political opponents or are used to scare voters into voting for a particular political party.

Areas of concern

Nadapuram and Kuttiadi have been identified as problematic regions. Only last Wednesday four persons were injured in bomb related violence in the same region.

The investigations into these incidents led to several raids being conducted. The police found bombs and bomb making material in these areas.

After the blast most of the homes in which the bombs were being prepared were found abandoned.

The materials were sent for forensic examination. The police say that these were high intensity fire crackers and not exactly bombs in the technical sense.

The police say that they face this problem every time there is an election. These high intensity fire crackers are produced in large numbers ahead of any election be it big or small.

Most of these bombs are designed in a manner to explode while hurled at someone, the police say. There have also been a spate of incidents in which people have died while preparing the bombs.

With the intelligence bureau report suggesting an escalation of violence as polling day approaches, the state police especially in the Kannur area have begun extensive combing operations.

There are several constituencies that have been marked as a red alert zone. These are constituencies where there are three or more candidates with a pending criminal record. Such areas are highest prone to violence during polling time, the police say.

OneIndia News