Major Cities, Delhi and Mumbai, on High Alert Following Serial Blasts in Kerala

In the wake of the series of explosions that occurred during a Jehovah’s Witnesses prayer gathering at a convention center in Kalamassery, Kerala, security measures have been heightened in both the national capital, Delhi, and the city of Mumbai. Delhi Police has increased security in densely populated areas of the city in response to the blasts. Similarly, the Mumbai Police has issued a high alert and enhanced security measures, considering the ongoing festive season, upcoming cricket matches, and the recent incidents in Kerala. Notably, Chabad House, a Jewish center in Mumbai, has already seen heightened security due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A statement from the Delhi Police’s Special Cell highlighted their continuous coordination with intelligence agencies and their commitment to treating all information seriously, with an emphasis on bolstering security at crowded locations.

The incident involved a series of explosions occurred at a convention center, resulting in one fatality and 36 injuries, shortly after the commencement of a prayer meeting today. The event took place in Kalamassery, located approximately 10 kilometers from Kochi, and saw the participation of nearly 2,000 attendees. Notably, this gathering marked the conclusion of a three-day prayer event that commenced on October 27.

Kerala Police reported that the attack involved the use of an improvised explosive device (IED) and announced the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident. Sources suggest that the explosive device was concealed within a tiffin box.

In response to the string of explosions, Home Minister Amit Shah engaged in a telephone conversation with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Following this, Mr. Shah issued directives for the heads of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guard (NSG), two central agencies with expertise in counterterrorism investigations and operations, to dispatch their specialized teams to the scene and initiate an inquiry.