Explosives were discovered outside the RSS-run Vyasa Vidya Peethom primary school in Vadakanthara, Palakkad, where daily shakhas are conducted, and the incident has prompted Education Minister V. Sivankutty to direct authorities to issue a show-cause notice on why the school’s no-objection certificate should not be cancelled, while insisting that educational spaces must not be turned into weapon storage centres.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday when a 10-year-old student found explosives near the school gate and threw one to the ground, triggering a blast that injured both himself and an elderly woman standing nearby, causing panic in the locality and raising questions about security in the area.
School staff and local residents rushed to the spot and informed the police, and a search led to the recovery of four more devices hidden in a bucket, which the police later confirmed to be of a dangerous nature and placed with the intent to endanger lives.
Both injured victims were taken to the hospital and are reported to be in stable condition, while the Palakkad North police registered a case under provisions of the Explosive Substances Act relating to causing explosions likely to endanger life and keeping explosives with intent to cause harm, in addition to a section of the Juvenile Justice Act concerning cruelty to children.
A special team led by a DySP-ranked officer has been tasked with the investigation, and CCTV footage from the vicinity has been collected in order to trace those responsible for leaving the explosives near the school.
The discovery has triggered a political storm in Palakkad, with BJP leaders alleging a conspiracy behind the incident and demanding a thorough probe, while the CPI(M) has turned its focus on the RSS link, accusing the school of being a venue for training volunteers and alleging that shakhas are conducted there both in the morning and evening.
The CPI(M) has further argued that the BJP is attempting to divert attention, and it has suggested that searches in RSS offices would reveal more dangerous materials.