Explosions were reported at two locations in Kannavam — near the Kannavam Range Forest Office and at Chunda — around 11.10 p.m. on Sunday (October 25), prompting the police to launch an investigation with the assistance of forensic, bomb detection and dog squads.

Preliminary assessments suggest that crude bombs may have been used. Steel fragments believed to have originated from the explosions were found near the sites, where a strong smell of explosives lingered. The motive remains unclear.

The Kannavam police have registered a case under various sections of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and intensified efforts to identify those responsible.

An official at the Kannavam police station said both explosives had been detonated on roads, but the exact motive behind the incidents was yet to be established.

“At Chunda, there were houses close to the spot where the explosion occurred, while along the road near the Kannavam Range Forest Office, the houses were located a little farther away,” the official said.

The limited availability of CCTV cameras in the areas has made it difficult for investigators to obtain visual evidence, the official added.

The police, along with forensic teams, bomb detection teams, and dog squads, inspected both locations. Further inquiries are under way to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosions and determine the motive.