5 members of Puttingal temple's managing committee surrender
Temple Trust President, Jayalal, Secretary, J Krishnankutty, Shivaprasad, Surendran Pillai and Ravindran Pillai informed police that they wanted to surrender and reached in front of a temple at Kappil near Paravoor and surrendered, police sources said.
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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.
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Besides, the members of the temple managing committee case was also registered against assistants of contractors who held the 'competitive' pyrotechnic display, despite a ban on it by the district administration.
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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.
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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.Â