The investigation into the pager explosion in Lebanon is centering on a company owned by Rinson Jose, a Malayali with Norwegian citizenship. International media reports indicate that his company was involved in financial transactions concerning the purchase of pagers.
Published Sep 20, 2024 | 1:48 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 20, 2024 | 8:01 PM
The investigation into the pager explosion in Lebanon is centering on a company owned by Rinson Jose, a Malayali, Rinson Jose, with Norwegian citizenship.
The investigation into the pager explosions in Lebanon on Wednesday, 18 September, is centred on a company owned by Rinson Jose, a Malayali with Norwegian citizenship. International media reports indicate that his company was involved in financial transactions concerning the purchase of pagers.
However, investigation agencies have stated that there is currently no direct evidence linking him to the explosion.
The origin of the explosives used in the pagers remains unknown, raising further questions in the case. While Rinson Jose’s involvement is under scrutiny, authorities emphasise that more information is needed before drawing definitive conclusions about his connection to the incident.
Jose hails from Mananthavady in the Wayanad district of Kerala.
A Norwegian tech entrepreneur, Jose, mysteriously vanished following a series of strikes against Hezbollah militants, during which pagers allegedly sourced through him were used.
The 39-year-old is believed to have been linked to a Bulgarian shell company that reportedly funnelled £1.3 million to Cristiana Arcidiacono-Barsony, a British-educated intermediary, as part of a complex operation allegedly orchestrated by Mossad.
Jose, who relocated to Oslo in 2015 after working for a London immigration advisory firm for two years, allegedly left for a previously arranged business trip on the same day of the attacks and has not been heard from since.
This report, published by UK-based media outlet Daily Mail, has quickly become a hot topic in Kerala, sparking serious discussions across social media platforms on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister said on Friday: “Bulgaria has nothing to do with the manufacture and transit of the pagers that have been detonated in Lebanon and Syria.”
He specified that this country was not involved in the customs clearance of the goods, either.
Kerala Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Intelligence) Manoj Abraham told South First: “We don’t have any official information to confirm the reports in international media claiming Malayalees’ involvement in the Lebanon pager explosion. The report says he is a Norwegian citizen from Wayanad, but Kerala Intelligence has not received any data to confirm this.”
He said no official information indicated Jose was directly involved, adding: “If the reports are verified, Kerala Intelligence will look into this matter immediately.”
“I doubt that Bulgaria initiated any investigation regarding this pager explosion. First, they need to trace the location where these pagers were loaded with explosives. Currently, these reports in international media are merely guesses. If Kerala Intelligence receives official data or verification on his involvement, we will begin the investigation from its roots.” he said.
The office of the Kerala DGP responded to South First, stating that the police did not receive any directives from the Union government regarding this matter. Additionally, there is no official confirmation concerning any connection to Malayali’s involvement.
Wayanad Superintendent of Police (SP) Taposh Basumatary informed South First that a high-level meeting is currently underway regarding international reports accusing Rinson Jose’s involvement in Hezbollah’s pager explosion.
“We will release official information by this evening,” he said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
