Wayanad native linked to Lebanon pager explosions; probe underway: Report

Rinson resides in Norway with his wife and last visited home in November 2023, returning in January 2024.

A man from Wayanad, who briefly trained for the clergy before migrating to Norway, has emerged as a key figure linked to the recent pager explosions in Lebanon that targeted Hezbollah fighters, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, including civilians, and injuring many others.

Rinson Jose (37), now a Norwegian citizen and allegedly the owner of Norta Global Ltd., based in Sofia, Bulgaria, is under investigation by international security agencies due to reports connecting his company to the sale of hundreds of pagers. Bulgarian state security agency DANS announced it is collaborating with the interior ministry to investigate the role of an unnamed Bulgarian-registered company in the terror attacks, according to The Cradle.co.

Records reviewed by CBS News indicate that Norta Global Ltd. was registered in Bulgaria in April 2022, with Rinson Jose listed as its sole owner. On September 20, central intelligence agencies and the Kerala Police special branch gathered information about Rinson from his hometown of Ondayangadi, near Mananthavady. Wayanad district police chief Taposh Basumathary confirmed that the police conducted a routine background check and are ensuring the family's safety with increased patrols in the area, according to a report by Times of India.

Family sources revealed that Rinson, the son of tailors Moothedath Jose and Gracy, moved abroad with his twin brother, who now works in the UK, while his sister is a nurse in Ireland. Rinson resides in Norway with his wife and last visited home in November 2023, returning in January 2024. His uncle, Thankachan, expressed concern, noting, “Rinson last spoke to his family three days ago, but we haven't been able to reach him since. The reports about him are unbelievable; he might have been deceived,” the TOI report added.

According to Onmanorama, Rinson previously operated a job consultancy and was active in the Malayali community in Norway, organizing festivals and football clubs. His LinkedIn profile indicates he has worked with DN Media Group since March 2022 and runs NortaLink, an IT services and consulting firm. He holds an MBA from Pondicherry University and a Master’s in International Social Welfare and Health Policy from Oslo Metropolitan University. Norta Global Ltd. is considered a shell company for NortaLink. He is currently in the US, Onmanorama added.

Hungarian media indicated that Norta Global facilitated the sale of the pagers, but its website, which described it as a technology company focused on consulting, technology, and payment integration, has since been taken down. Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security stated that Norta Global and its owner had “not carried out any transaction linked to the sale or purchase of merchandise” that would fall under terrorism financing laws.

Reuters reported that Norta’s Bulgarian headquarters was located in an apartment building near Sofia that housed nearly 200 other companies, yet no sign of Norta could be found. When Reuters reached by phone, Rinson declined to comment on the pager situation and hung up when asked about his Bulgarian business.

Amund Djuve, CEO of DN Media, confirmed awareness of the reports and stated he had alerted police and security services, adding that Jose was traveling to the US. Oslo Police have initiated “preliminary inquiries” into the situation, while Norway's domestic intelligence agency, PST, acknowledged the developments but declined further comment. Rinson's LinkedIn profile indicates he has been with DN Media Group for nearly five years, focusing on digitisation and growth across various brands and publications, and he has co-founded IT recruiting firms.