6 killed in bomb blast in village near Kundankulam Nuclear Plant

mangaloretoday.com

Tirunelveli (TN) Nov 26, 2013 (PTI): At least six people, including two children, died after a crude bomb exploded at the Tsunami Colony in Idinthakarai village, the ground zero for protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in the Tirunelvelli district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.

Police sources say the explosion occurred when the bombs were being made in a house. Two houses suffered severe damage. The girls who lost their lives were in the adjoining house.

Two live bombs were also recovered from the spot.

 

Locals say the explosion occurred in a house occupied by people who moved from the neighbouring Koothankuzhi village following a row over beach sand mining.

However, cops said they suspected the country-made bombs could have been made to target them. They also said some of the victims were involved in making the bombs, adding that the accused were activists of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), the group that has spearheaded the movement against the nuclear plant at Kudankulam.

Idinthakarai has witnessed massive protests over the last two years against the nuclear plant. Though the Supreme Court had ordered withdrawal of cases against protesters, the Tamil Nadu Government is yet to comply, citing the situation isn’t conducive still.

Some villages in this region are notorious for country bomb-making to target rival groups during clashes. Last month, a minor boy was arrested for possession of around 25 country-made bombs at Koothankuzhi.