Kochi Nursery Arson: Police Investigate Terror Links and Examine Accused's Devices

Kochi, Oct 16, 2026 13:31 ISTPolice are examining electronic devices seized from a man accused of setting fire to a nursery near a synagogue in Ernakulam Market as they investigate a possible terror link, news agency PTI reported on Friday.

The accused, 32-year-old Bin Paul from Puthencruz, was arrested for allegedly setting fire to Blossom Nursery, located opposite the Kadavubhagam synagogue, in the early hours of October 12.

Investigators are examining whether Paul attacked designated targets at the direction of an unidentified person, recorded the incidents and sent the footage in return for payment. Messages recovered from his phone reportedly referred to Jewish places of worship and attacks in different cities across India.

Police are trying to identify the people involved in the communications, establish their links with Paul and determine whether the arson was part of an organised operation. A court remanded Paul to five days of police custody on Thursday. He is being questioned by the investigation team.

Kochi City Police Commissioner Arun K Pavithran told reporters that a Special Investigation Team had been formed to probe the incident. The electronic devices of the accused are being examined, and further investigation will proceed based on the findings, Pavithran said. He added that the investigation was at an initial stage and that the suspect was cooperating.

Police sources told PTI that investigators were trying to retrieve chats between Paul and a suspected handler on the Telegram app. Police will write to Telegram seeking details of the chats, they said.

Paul appeared to have been in contact with a person who had been directing him for the past several months, the sources said.

When a magistrate's court considered the police's custody application on Thursday, Paul's counsel said he was taking medication for a mental health condition. Police sources, however, said he was fully cooperating with the investigation and that further medical tests would be conducted later with the court's permission.

Police also recovered substances, including heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, alprazolam and ketamine, from Paul's residence. The substances are suspected to have been ordered online.

Puthencruz police have registered a separate case over the seizure and will approach the court for Paul's custody to question him in detail in that case, officials said.