Kollam tragedy: Seven absconding officials of Puttingal temple surrender
Kollam: Crime Branch Police officials are questioning the seven managing committee members of the Puttingal Devi Temple, who surrendered early Tuesday after going absconding since the fireworks tragedy that claimed 109 lives.
While temple trust President, Jayalal, Secretary, J Krishnankutty, Shivaprasad, Surendran Pillai, Ravindran Pillai, surrendered before the Crime Branch police, two others – Surendranathan Pillai and Murugesan – were picked up by police here this morning.
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Arun Suraj, 24, sitting with family as he shows a photograph of his brother Athiraj, 22, who died in Kollam temple fire. (Photo: AP)
Police said, “They are being questioned” and a case had been registered against at least 20 persons, including the managing committee members and contractors of the fireworks display that went awry on early Sunday.
The five were absconding soon after one of the worst temple tragedies Kerala has witnessed which has claimed 109 lives so far and left over 350 injured.
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Crime Branch, which has begun investigations, has registered a case against six persons, including members of temple managing committee under Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under section 4 of Explosives Substances Act.
Read: After Kollam temple fire tragedy, Kerala HC judge seeks ban on crackers
Besides, the members of the temple managing committee case were also registered against assistants of contractors who held the 'competitive' pyrotechnic display, despite a ban on it by the district administration.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury visits the victims of Puttingal temple fire at a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. (Photo: PTI)
Gross violation of norms and use of banned chemicals led to the Puttingal tragedy, a top explosives official had said yesterday as a case of attempt to murder was filed against six persons including temple officials.
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The Kerala High Court will hear this morning the plea for a ban on cracker bursting and fireworks display in temple functions.
The accident at the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex occurred during an unauthorised display of fireworks early Sunday morning after a spark from a firecracker fell on the storehouse containing crackers, triggering explosions.
