Kerala: Three cars with 'explosives' found near Puttingal temple

A day after 109 people were killed and 380 injured in the tragic fire incident in Kollam district of Kerala, three cars with 'explosives' were reportedly found near the Puttingal temple on Monday. The devastating fire had engulfed the 100-year-old Puttingal Devi Temple complex during an unauthorised display of fireworks early on Sunday morning.
According to NDTV, the bomb squad has reached the location and is verifying the nature of the explosives. According to ANI, the owners of the cars have been identified as SS Thushara, Surendran KL & Stalin Almeda. Meanwhile, amid growing clamour for a ban on temple fireworks display, the Travancore Devaswom Board which manages about 1,255 temples in the state, said it did not support a complete ban on such displays.

Prayar Goapalakrishnan, President of TDB, said the board was against banning the pyrotechnics during temple festivals as they are part of rituals. Meanwhile, police has registered a case against six persons, including members of the temple managing committee and associates of firework contractors, on attempt to murder and other charges in connection with the Putttingal Devi temple fire tragedy.

Five persons have also been held for questioning, but the police did not reveal the identity of those booked and detained. The accused were charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and Section four of the Explosives Substances Act, police said. The Kerala government had ordered a judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge as also a probe by the Crime Branch.
Source:  dna webdesk