Three accused in Kollam collectorate blast case sentenced to life imprisonment 

KOLLAM: The court sentenced the three accused in the Kollam Collectorate blast case to life imprisonment. The Kollam Principal Sessions Court pronounced the sentence. One to three accused are Abbas Ali of House No 11/23, Madurai South Ismailpuram, Shamsun Karim Raja of House No 17, K Puthur Ramukothanad and Dawood Sulaiman of House No 23/23, Nalpette First Street, Madurai North. Fourth accused Shamsuddin was acquitted the other day. The fifth accused Muhammad Ayub, was made approver. The state government had imposed Anti-Terrorism Act (UAPA) against the accused.

A bomb was placed under an unused jeep belonging to the labour department, and exploded near a munsiff court in the collectorate on June 15 in 2016. Sabu, the vice president of Kottankara Panchayat, who was standing in the collectorate premises sustained injuries. The jeep was completely damaged in the blast. A week before the blast, Karim Raja, the second accused reached Kollam and took pictures and videos of the Collectorate and the court, in his mobile phone. On the day of the blast, he reached Kollam KSRTC stand by bus from Madurai. He then reached the collectorate in an auto and placed the bomb in the jeep. The third accused, Dawood Sulaiman from Andhra circulated on social media that Base Movement is taking responsibility for the blast. It was also found that Abbas Ali made the bomb in his house. The fourth accused was charged for hatching the conspiracy.

Before the blast in Kollam, the accused also placed a bomb in the court premises of Chittoor, Mysuru, Nellore and Malappuram. Kerala Police could not find the accused. The four were arrested on November 28, 2016 by the NIA Hyderabad team investigating the Mysuru blast case. George Koshi, who was Kollam ACP when the incident took place, completed the investigation and submitted the charge sheet.