Puttingal fireworks were competitive: Krishnankutty

Kochi: The key accused in the Paravoor Fire Tragedy case Krishnankutty, one of the fireworks contractors named in the Puttingal tragedy case, himself has declared that the fireworks held at Paravoor were competitive fireworks display.   
Krishnankutty the fourth accused and his wife Anarkali, the fifth accused declared the same in an anticipatory bail plea filed before Kerala High Court.

Krishnankutty claimed that he left the temple after the competition and he played no part in the explosion. The High Court would consider the petition on Tuesday. Krishnan Kutty argued that he mainly focused on displays with more colour and less intensity varieties instead of high-decibel explosives. He added that he left the fireworks display venue much before the tragedy took place.

He also submitted that had there been the required intensity of power while igniting it, charcol like debris would have come down from the air rather than embers falling down. He clarified that he has no direct or indirect nexus with the high-decibel explosives which had shattered the Puttingal Temple premises. Krishnankutty alleged that Surendran, the main contractor, was behind the tragedy.

Krishnankutty also contended that they have renewed and valid licence covering upto March 31, 2017 and are permitted to stock explosives uto 15 kg. They are also permitted to keep and retain small crackers upto Rs 5000. The tragedy happened on the wee hours of claimed lives of over a hundred persons on April 9.