THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Crime Branch on Monday began probe into the Paravoor Puttingal Devi Temple fireworks tragedy. The probe has been initiated after forming a special team led by ADGP (crimes) S Ananthakrishnan. The team comprises IG S Sreejith, SP D Sreedharan of Thiruvananthapuram unit, three DySPs and a team of forensic experts.
On Monday, the team arrived at the spot and collected the evidence. During the inspection, the forensic team had also verified the remnants of the explosive particles to check whether they had used any ‘banned’ explosive items for the pyrotechnics display.
The Paravoor police also handed over the case to the Crime Branch. Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the temple authorities had conducted the fireworks display without getting permission from the authorities concerned. Moreover, the Crime Branch will probe the incident from all angles, including the alleged security lapse.
There were allegations that the city police failed to deploy sufficient security personnel in the area and enforce proper safety steps. Ananthakrishnan told ‘Express’ that a probe has been launched and the special team would weigh in all the possibilities, including the alleged security lapse on the part of the police, to unearth the real reason behind the tragedy. “Statements from all the persons related to the case and eye-witnesses will be taken into account,” he said.
Cases against Six
Based on the initial probe, the CB team will register case against six persons, in which three are from the temple managing committee and three are fireworks contractors and sub-contractors. The managing committee members are still absconding. According to the officials, the Paravoor police have already registered a case against J Krishnankutty Pillai, Puttingal Temple secretary, P S Jeyalal, temple committee president and Premalal, temple committee member and other three persons, Kazhakootam Surendran, Varkala Krishnan Kutty and Anarkali, who are fireworks contractors. Of these, Krishnankutty and Surendran are under treatment at a hospital in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram MC Hospital.
Details handed over to CB teaM
The Kazhakootam police have also handed over the details of the quantity of crackers transported to Paravoor from Surendran’s godown in Attingal, to the Paravoor police. The Paravoor police, apparently, handed over it to the Crime Branch. On Sunday, five persons who worked for Surendran were grilled. During interrogation, they reportedly told the police that they had transported atleast three loads of explosives for fireworks to Paravoor from the manufacturing unit at Attingal and confessed that they had conducted a fireworks competition and not a normal display. The Paravoor police, who had taken the custody of the five persons from Kazhakoottam police, handed over them to the Crime Branch.