Kollam east police sit on dynamites

KOLLAM: The Kollam east police is sitting on a virtual dynamite ever since the Puttingal temple tragedy that occurred on April 10.   Nearly 1,500 kg of chemicals used for preparing explosives which were seized in the wake of the tragedy are stored in  the Jana Maithri police station building here unscientifically. The chemicals are stored  flouting all the norms  posing a threat to the life of around 15 policemen working there.   

“The chemicals kept in separate sacks near the cash counter of the police station building include aluminium powder, sulphur, carbon and barium nitrate that are used for the making of firecrackers. For defusing the chemicals, we need the special sanction from the court,” Kollam east CI V.S. Pradeep Kumar told this newspaper.

According to experts, the chemicals if stored unscientifically under high temperature and pressure might lead to explosion. The compound in which Kollam east station is situated has a women police station,  police museum, Jana Maithri centre, police quarters  and the police club.

The east police seized the explosives from a cracker shop run by Siyad of Mulan-kadakom, who is suspected to have provided them  to Puttingal fireworks co-ntractor Krishnan Kutty.   Meanwhile, the explosives found from three abandoned vehicles near Sharkara temple after the Puttingal tragedy were defused at Pooyappally.