Pre-meditated Bombing in Kerala, India at Jehovah's Witnesses' Regional Convention

Updates on Dominic Martin and Blasts as of November 6th, 2023

An Article from The News Minute wrote “Early on Monday morning, November 6, 61-year-old Molly Joy, who had suffered 80% burns, lost her life.”

This would be the 4th person who has died from the Kerala Blasts, and not only that but they all happened to be women. Around 60 people were injured. 10 are still in the hospital getting treated, 2 of them still in serious condition. On November 5th meetings in Kerala continued their in person meetings.

Under judicial remand David Martins custody ends on November 6th, but it is expected that there will be an extension.

Updates on Dominic Martin as of November 4th, 2023

JW regional Spokesperson Thannippara Azhakappa Sreekumar has contradicted himself by being quoted in a highly biased article on how Dominic Martin IS a baptized witness but has not attended meetings in 7 years. Yet, His wife and children are active witnesses. There are various articles on this event with a number of contradictions.

For example, one article says Martin was remorseful about the deaths and what had happened. Another says not an ounce of remorse was found within him and he needs examination;. Yet another says that he was not “linked” with the Jehovah’s Witness organization and was out to cause terror. Another says that he was mentally and physically well, while another said he was not. The latest article where Thannippara Azhakappa Sreekumar was quoted is found here:

The Inscrutable Mind of Dominic Martin

In a newspaper article shown below, the same spokesperson TA Sreekumar says there are no links with David Martin and the Jehovah’s Witness Organisation. This plays along the narrative of this organization choosing when its baptized or unbaptized followers are affiliated with them, or not.

Updates on Dominic Martin as of November 1st, 2023

Dominic Martin has decided to represent himself in trial. The Times of India stated “He appeared before the district sessions court in Ernakulam wearing a black hood with slits for his eyes. The court remanded him to judicial custody until November 29. In the article it is also stated that a police officer said “Martin is continuing to stick to his stand that his actions were driven by Ideological beliefs. He was angry with the community.”

In another article, New Indian Express It explains that the day of, as Martin was planning the bombs at the convention centre- he heard news that his Mother-n-Law and other family members would be attending the convention. Martin called his wife multiple times, but ‘a high source’ states “Martins wife did not answer due to being busy doing Household chores.”

This same high source also said that He had actually met his mother-n-Law at the convention centre before hand, yet didn’t say anything to her. Police say that Dominic has shown remorse over the death and of others seriously injured. The reasons stated on why he will not accept a legal aid council by the court was because he said “I want to express my ideas in my own voice.”

KERALA, INDIA: On Sunday October 29th, 2023 Dominic Martin placed a number of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the Zamra International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Kalamassery. Jehovah’s Witnesses were holding their Exercise Patience regional convention throughout the weekend. Using a remote detonation device, he set off the bombs after leaving the area. He then went on social media and posted a video claiming responsibility and outlining his reasons for the explosions. Later, in the early afternoon, he travelled some 27 miles and arrived at the Kerala, Thrissur Rural Police station, where he handed himself in.

We are saddened to report that three (3) women have died, including a 12-year-old girl. Some 50 others are injured, with more than 30 being hospitalized. Somewhere between 12 and 18 have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Three (3) remain in critical condition.

About the Victims

Layona Paulose (60) died at the scene of the blasts, having been burned to death. She was from Kurruppampady, Ernakulam. She had attended the convention alone as most of her relatives reside abroad. These facts delayed her identification.

Kumari (53) was the second woman to die. She succumbed to her injuries on Sunday evening, having suffered 90% burns. She was from Thodupuzha, Idukki.

Libina (12) was the youngest victim, bringing the death toll to three (3). She suffered from more than 95% burns. She was being treated at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital. She stopped reacting to medication in the early morning of Monday October 30.

Witnesses said that around 9:30 am, during their opening prayer, within about a minute of closing their eyes, at least 3 blasts went off in the middle of the convention center. It was also reported that immediately after the first blasts, 2 more blasts occurred on the sides of the center.

Sources from multiple websites are saying Martin trained himself to make the bombs over the past 6 months by watching online videos.

Stated on the Kerala news site- “From whatever details are available, it is understood that he committed the crime all alone. He blasted the improvised explosive device (IED), using a remote control. He purchased components mainly from online portals.”

His Facebook live video was aired throughout the day on TV channels, which is now unavailable to the public. It is claimed that the video was made a week earlier

Dominic Martin has claimed that he was a Jehovah’s Witness “for 16 years”, and though he “hadn’t taken it seriously … about 6 years [he] … came to the conclusion that this movement is wrong and its teachings are treacherous”. The news agency, PTI reported Martin alleging, “the organization and its ideologies were dangerous for the country and therefore, it had to be put to an end in the state.”

A translation and Video of Martin’s is provided below.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses organization is known for its odd and strict beliefs. There is an ungodly measure of mental and emotional affliction regarding their expulsion practices. Some even claim that there is a general mental and life cost associated with abiding with the organization’s over-reaching rules. However, these are no reasons to cause infliction of violence, harm, or death to members of the group. Physical violence and murder are abhorrent. We condemn such acts against Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Former members of Jehovah’s Witnesses advocate raising awareness of this organization’s harmful teachings. They do not condone or support such dreadful acts of violence. Many former believers have beloved family and friends that are practicing Jehovah’s Witnesses. We respect their right to believe and worship in peace.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses have released a “Breaking News” alert on their jw.org website entitled, Explosion at Convention in India. It states that over 2200 people were in attendance with initial reports that “two of our sisters were killed.” The alert makes no mention of the bomber. They quote Psalm 9:9, which states from their New World Translation, “Jehovah will become a secure refuge for the oppressed, a secure refuge in times of distress”. Thannippara Azhakappa Sreekumar, a spokesperson for the Jehovah’s Witnesses said he was not a “registered member of the group”. There is no registration process in Jehovah’s Witnesses, and there is no mention in Jehovah’s Witnesses’ policies of a register of members so this response from Sreekumar requires clarification.

This isn’t the first time this year that Jehovah’s Witnesses have been attacked by those associated with the religious group. On March 9th, Philip Fusz shot and killed six (6) Jehovah’s Witnesses at a congregation meeting in Hamburg Germany. He then turned the gun on himself.

Who is Dominic Martin?

Dominic Martin (57) lived and worked in Dubai for about 15 years. He and his family moved back to India after his daughter contracted Dengue.

He has extensive knowledge of making electrical circuits having worked as an electrician in Dubai.

Martin was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witnesses (group of sabha, which means congregation). T.A. Sreekumar’s JW spokesperson said that he was not comment that he was not a “registered member” yet in another article did say that he was baptized, just not attending the meteings for the past 7 years. His Wife and his children though are active Jehovah’s Witnesses.

He is a native of Ernakulam, East of Kochi, India, residing in the suburb of Thammanam for the past month.

Martin and his wife have two children – a son and daughter. Martin’s son lives and is studying in the UK and his daughter lives in India, working at Infopark Kochi.

Dominic Martin alleges that he took the decision to bomb the convention center because he believes the teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses were “seditious”.

The bombs he developed were a mixture of explosives and petrol placed inside a tiffin box, which is a type of stainless steel lunch box used in India. Its use, therefore, would not have drawn any suspicion from convention attendees, as it is typical – and encouraged – for Jehovah’s Witnesses to bring their own lunch to such events.

Dominic Martin was formally arrested on Monday and his case is scheduled for hearing November 29th

Transcript of Dominic Martin's Facebook video

Our hearts go out to the families who suffered injures, inner and outer turmoil. This an extremely devastating and unfortunate event, and we hope the families can find peace and comfort.

Click here for the video of Dominic Martin

"Hello my name is Martin,
I believe you may have heard about what happened just now. A bomb blast occurred in the Jehovah's Witnesses regional convention and serious consequences or damages occurred. I don't know the extent of damages, but I am sure serious damages occurred.
I am taking full responsibility for this incident. I am the one who conducted the bomb attack. I am doing this video to explain why I did this bomb blast. For 16 years I had been associated with Jehovah's Witnesses At the beginning, I hadn't taken it seriously. But about 6 years ago, I started thinking about it and came to the conclusion that this movement is wrong and it's teachings are anti-national.
I have asked them to correct them several times. However they ignored me. I approached them again and again but I was continuously ignored.
Through my association with them, I came to understand that this is a community that denigrates the people of the country of which they too are citizens. They were calling the whole population of the nation worse than prostitutes, destined to destruction, and was teaching not to Mingle with them, eat amongst them etc. I came to the conclusion that this is wrong and dangerous ideology.
They were teaching 4 year old nursery children not to eat sweets given by a classmate, even if 49 out of 50 students are eating them. Think about how that child feels. Parents are injecting children with such poison, even at the tender age of 4.
They teach children not to sing the national anthem, not to vote, that the whole population is bad, never to associate with them, never to join the Army, never work in government service, and not to even become a teacher. They say these are all jobs of society destined to be destroyed.
It's alright to have religious faith, believing that you live, die and go to heaven. However, they (Jehovah's Witnesses) are teaching that everyone else in the world will be destroyed. What can we do about a movement that hopes to see the destruction of 8.5 Billion people?
I cannot find a solution to this question. I have no choice but to respond to this evil ideology. After seeing clearly what they are, and realizing how dangerous they are to the country, I decided to do what I have done.
No political party will intervene because everyone is afraid to stand against a religion. Open your eyes. If you do not control dangerous ideologies like this, people like me have to sacrifice their life fighting it.
Open your eyes at least now, how can you call other people - someone else's sisters and mothers - as society of prostitutes? How backward thinking is this? They are teaching that everyone else will be destroyed, all 8.5 billion, except just us.
How can we allow this ideology to grow amongst us? If not even one person stands up against them, they will continue to believe that they are right. You are wrong. Jehovah's Witnesses, you are wrong. You print some books saying that you should help others, that you respect them.
You are lying. You don't respect others or help them. You print in your newsletters that you respect others, but it's just a ploy to present as talking point or as an argument in courts when cases like this happen. When the floods happened, you only helped to clean homes of your people. Isn't it true?
I posted about it earlier and it's still live in FB. I made this decision after thinking a lot. We must end this wrong ideology in our nation. You can believe whatever, but it's wrong to wish destruction of everyone else.;
You can believe whatever, but it's wrong to wish destruction of everyone else. I oppose this wrong ideology that calls the people of this nation - who give us bread and butter - as prostitutes, as a society or caste destined for destruction disrespecting or demeaning them.
I oppose this ideology that pretends that we are the only good people in this world. I am saying this with a certain belief that this ideology is not needed in our society."
I am going to the police station to surrender, no need to come looking for me.
Lastly, Do not publish how I built this bomb. It's blueprint is very dangerous. No media agency or social media should make it public. This is all I have to say. Everything else, you will find out later."

Dominic Martin (Alleged bomber)