Political Turmoil in Palakkad After Explosives Found Outside RSS School
In a shocking incident in Palakkad’s Vadakkanthara area, dangerous explosives were discovered outside the Vyasa Vidya Peethom primary school, which is run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The explosives were found near the school gate, where daily RSS shakhas (volunteer training sessions) are conducted. The situation escalated when a 10-year-old student discovered the explosives and, unaware of the danger, threw one of them to the ground. This caused a blast that injured both the child and an elderly woman standing nearby, leading to panic and fear in the locality. The injured were hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition.
Following the explosion, a police search recovered four more explosive devices stored in a bucket near the school. The Palakkad North police registered cases under the Explosive Substances Act and the Juvenile Justice Act concerning cruelty to children. A special investigation team, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, has been assigned to the case, with CCTV footage being reviewed to identify those responsible. The incident has stirred a major political controversy in the region. BJP leaders have alleged a conspiracy behind the placement of explosives and demanded a thorough investigation. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] pointed to the RSS connection, accusing the school of being a site for training volunteers and conducting shakhas both morning and evening. They also claimed that searches in RSS offices might reveal more dangerous materials.
Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty strongly condemned the incident, calling for strict legal action and emphasizing that no educational institutions should be turned into places for weapons or militant activities. The government has reportedly issued a show-cause notice to the school authorities regarding their no-objection certificate, highlighting that such premises must strictly remain safe educational spaces. The political tension continues to grow as different parties use the incident to push their agendas, with demands for accountability and security reforms in school environments to prevent such dangerous occurrences in the future.
