Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Leader V. S. Achuthanandan has said the evidence coming out in connection with the Puttingal temple fire tragedy clearly pointed fingers at Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
In a statement here, the opposition leader said that there was a strong suspicion that the permission for competitive fireworks was given at the behest of the home minister. The chain of events that have taken place after the incident clearly brings his role under the scanner.
Achuthanandan alleged that Chennithala permitted the fireworks with the blessings of chief minister Oommen Chandy and that’s why the probe had been handed over to Crime Branch for a cover up. “At a time when the role of police commissioner, ACP and CI are under the scanner, one cannot expect a free and fair probe by crime branch,” he said.
The opposition leader said the manner in which the report of additional chief secretary (home) was sent to the DGP for his remarks, clearly indicated Chennithala’s desperation to save the cops and himself. “It is like handing over the investigations to the accused itself,” he said and added that the existing probe by ADGP (Crime) would not be able to reach the bottom of the truth.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the government to initiate action against the three police officials’ including the commissioner and ACP for defying the collector’s directive.
