The Kerala Police have registered a case of attempt to murder and other offences against six persons, including members of temple managing committee and associates of firework contractors in connection with the Putttingal Devi temple fire tragedy, even as the toll today rose to 109.

A case has been registered against six persons including temple authorities under Section 307 (attempt to murder), and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of IPC and under Section 4 of the Explosives Substances Act. Besides the members of the temple managing committee, a case was also registered against assistants of the contractors who held the ‘competitive’ pyrotechnic display, despite a ban on it by the district administration.

The authorities are veering around to the view that the competitive fireworks display at the end of the main fireworks event, which had begun at midnight, had led to the disaster. The temple committee had gone ahead with the pyrotechnic event challenging the denial of permission by the district administration.

The impact of the explosion, which was felt miles away, the collapse of houses in the vicinity of the temple and the heavy loss of life all indicated that huge quantities of explosives were used.

Meanwhile, Kollam District Collector Shynamol has criticised the police for not preventing the pyrotechnics. She told the media that the police had failed to execute the administration’s instructions. The police had initially recommended that the fireworks display not be permitted, but changed its mind within two days.

Still, the administration did not grant permission. In spite of this, the temple functionaries carried out the display, with the police failing to prevent it.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who visited the injured on Monday, urged the Kerala government to order a judicial enquiry by a sitting High Court judge rather than by a retired one. Senior CPI(M) leader VS Achuthanandan has called for an investigation by the National Investigation Agency as the explosives used were illegal and the quantity very large.

Judge’s plea Meanwhile, Justice B Chidambaresh of the Kerala High Court has asked the court to consider restricting pyrotechnics during festivals. He urged the court registrar to consider his request as a public interest petition. The judge’s petition has been listed for consideration by a Division Bench on Tuesday.

Several religious heads and socio-cultural leaders have asked the government to ban pyrotechnics displays as part of temple festivals. Sivagiri Mutt head Swamy Prakashananda, recalling Sri Narayana Guru’s call to keep elephants and pyrotechnics out of temple rituals, wanted a government ban on both.

The Hindu Aikya Vedi has also stressed the need for curtailing fireworks. The Latin Catholic Church and the Syrian Orthodox Church have said they would discourage fireworks displays at church festivals.

Against ban However, Prayar Gopalakrishnan, president of the Travancore Devaswom Board, which has over 1,200 temples under its control, has said that fireworks displays at temples should not be prohibited as they are part of temple traditions.

He approved of restrictions, but said an outright ban was unacceptable.

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