Pager blasts: Police verify Keralite's background; BJP demands protection

Amid reports linking Rinson Jose, a Kerala native settled in Norway, to the probe into recent pager blasts in Lebanon, the Kerala police on Sunday confirmed a background check on his family, while a BJP leader referred to him as a "son of our nation" and demanded "protection." "There is no case or investigation. Our special branch officials have carried out a background check. There is nothing new in it; such checks are conducted whenever similar news reports emerge," a police officer told PTI. Another police official said that a "precautionary patrol" has been launched in the area near Mananthavady where his family resides following the reports. He said that his family has not requested police protection. Rinson, who went abroad for a job a decade ago, is now a Norwegian citizen. Meanwhile, BJP leader Sandeep G Varier called for protection for Rinson and his family. "He is the son of our nation. He is a Malayali. At any cost, we must provide protection to Rinson and his family,"