Karnataka CM Orders Suspension of Tahsildar, Inspector over Cracker Mishap

BENGALURU: Over the Attibele fire cracker fire incident which claimed 14 lives, a couple of days back, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who held a meeting on Tuesday said to have instructed officials concerned to place Tahsildhar, Police Inspector and Chief Fire Officer under suspension alleging dereliction of duties.

Later at a press conference along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said notices will also be served on Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police who renewed the cracker license in Attibele cracker case. The cracker license in Attibele case was given to Ramaswamy Reddy who owns Balaji Traders to sell crackers.

For now onwards, he said, cracker license will be renewed every year based on the performance of the license holder in the previous year while renewal of license has been done in the State once in five years. Intervening, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, there should be vacant space around the shop selling crackers among other factors that will be looked into at the time of renewal of license.

The Chief Minister said to have instructed the officials concerned to follow the Supreme Court order on crackers and sell only ‘green crackers.” Henceforth in the State, he said, only bursting green crackers will be allowed be it in processions, marriages or any other celebratory events.

Another instruction given to the officials concerned by the Chief Minister was to strictly follow the order of the Supreme Court in selling crackers and to cancel license if found any violations under Explosives Act.

Siddaramaiah said that Deepawali festival is fast approaching where people celebrate burst crackers and stated that he has come across incidents of people losing eyesight, some getting injuries and in rare cases deaths have also occurred and asked the officials concerned to strictly follow the orders.

“First to ban crackers (other than green crackers) and taking into consideration cause of action to initiate action if found violations,” said the Chief Minister.