Kalamaserry Blast: UAPA Charges Dropped Against Lone Accused Dominic Martin (image-X/DearthOfSid)

A year after the blast at the Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in Ernakulam’s Kalamassery, the Kerala government on Monday dropped the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) charges against lone accused Dominic Martin in the Kalamaserry blast case.

Led by Kochi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the investigation initially included UAPA provisions in the charge sheet filed in the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court in April this year.

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KS Sudharsan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (L&O, Traffic), told The News Minute that the UAPA charges were dropped from the chargesheet because they did not get the prosecution sanction. The charges included relate to murder and the Explosive Act. The trial will proceed at the sessions court.

On October 29 last year, a series of blasts occurred at Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre, during the third and last day of the prayer meet of Jehovah’s Witnesses, killing eight, including a 12-year-old school student, and injuring at least 50 others. At least 2,000 people were attending the prayer meet when the incident occurred.

A former member of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Dominic Martin, came forward and claimed responsibility for the blasts the same day to Thrissur police.

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Before surrendering to the police, Martin allegedly went live on Facebook and expressed his unhappiness with the teachings and activities of the sect, which he claimed as “anti-national,” as the reason behind his actions. The video was later deleted.

Martin, a resident of Tammanam, also claimed that he did everything by himself without external help. He was arrested and charged under UAPA, the Explosive Substances Act, and Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).