13 people have been arrested so far in connection with the Puttingal temple tragedy in Kerala. Seven of the thirteen were members of the managing committee of the Puttingal Devi temple, surrendered on Tuesday.
Temple Trust President Jayalal, Secretary J Krishnankutty, Shivaprasad, Surendran Pillai and Ravindran Pillai surrendered in front of a temple at Kappil near Paravoor, police sources said. Eight others were arrested later in the day.
The 13 were absconding soon after the tragedy struck.
The Crime Branch has registered a case against some people, including members of the 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.
Besides members of the temple managing committee, a case was also registered against the assistants of the contractors who held the ‘competitive’ pyrotechnic display, despite the district administration banning the event.
Gross violation of norms and use of banned chemicals led to the Puttingal tragedy, a top explosives official had said on Monday.
The Kerala High Court will hear on Tuesday the plea for a ban on firecrackers 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.
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