On 29 October 2023, three explosions rocked a packed Jehovah’s Witnesses convention in Kalamassery, killing eight and injuring many. Over 2,500 attendees were present when fire erupted after the blasts
Published May 14, 2025 | 4:05 PM ⚊ Updated May 14, 2025 | 4:05 PM
Screengrab from a video of the aftermath of the Kalamassery blasts in Kerala on 29 October, 2023.
Synopsis: A key witness in the 2023 Kalamassery blast case has received a threat via a phone call traced to Malaysia, warning him not to testify. Identified as Sreekumar, a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, he was present during the deadly attack. Kochi police have launched a cyber investigation and assured steps to ensure his safety ahead of the trial.
A key witness in the 2023 Kalamassery blast case, linked to the deadly attack on a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention, has received a threat warning him not to testify in court.
The threat, reportedly made via a phone call from Malaysia, has prompted a fresh police investigation ahead of the trial.
The witness, identified as Sreekumar, is a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith community and was present at the time of the blasts.
According to his complaint, the anonymous caller warned him against appearing in court, raising serious concerns about witness safety as the high-profile trial is set to begin.
The Kalamassery Police have registered a case and are working in coordination with the Kochi cyber police to trace the origin of the call. “We have initiated an investigation and are taking steps to ensure the witness’s protection,” a police officer confirmed to South First.
The blast occurred on 29 October, 2023, during the final day of the Jehovah’s Witnesses annual convention at a packed convention centre in Kalamassery, where over 2,500 people had gathered.
The first explosion occurred around 9:30 a.m., followed by two more in rapid succession. The blasts triggered a fire that led to the deaths of eight people and left many others injured with severe burns.
According to the police chargesheet, the attack was carried out by Martin Dominic, a resident of Thammanam. The chargesheet notes that Dominic’s “intense hatred” towards the Jehovah’s Witnesses was the key motive behind the attack.
In a dramatic twist, Dominic posted a video online claiming responsibility for the blasts and later surrendered to the police.
The latest threat to Sreekumar has heightened tensions around the case, which has already drawn national attention due to the scale of the violence and the ideological motivations involved.
With the trial set to begin soon, police say additional security measures may be implemented to ensure the safety of witnesses and court proceedings.
Threats to witnesses in such sensitive cases pose a serious challenge to the justice system and must be dealt with firmly to uphold the rule of law.
The police investigation into the threatening call is ongoing.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
